Page 44 - Christies May 2016

PROPERTY OF A DISTINGUISHED PRIVATE SWISS COLLECTOR

*29

A LARGE AND IMPRESSIVE POLYCHROME WOOD FIGURE OF
GUANYIN
MING DYNASTY, 15TH-17TH CENTURY

The bodhisattva is modelled seated in dyanasana, with the right hand raised in
vitarka mudra and the left hand in varada mudra. The long fowing robes open at
the chest to reveal a bejewelled necklace. The head is adorned with an elaborate
headdress and the face bears a serene expression with downcast eyes.
38º in. (97 cm.) high

£80,000-120,000 $120,000-170,000
€110,000-150,000

Large wood sculptures of Guanyin are relatively rare, and in most cases the
bodhisattva is depicted standing or in the “water-moon” posture, with one leg
raised and the arm extended and resting on the knee. The present fgure is part
of a small corpus of works that depict Guanyin in the yogic padmasana, with the
legs crossed in front of the body with the soles of the feet up; such a posture in
Chinese sculpture is often reserved for images of Buddha.

The dating for this lot is consistent with Radiocarbon Dating Measurement
Report no. RCD-8536, GrA-65575.

明十五至十七世紀 彩繪木雕觀音坐像

來源:瑞士重要私人珍藏

此尊觀音經放射性碳定年法測試(測試編號RCD-8536，
GrA-65575)，證實與本圖錄之斷代相符