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8059 See a miniature gilt bronze figure, in this case depicting a monk, dated
A SMALL GILT BRONZE FIGURE OF THOUSAND-ARMED early Tang dynasty, with very similar casting and drapery in the robes,
GUANYIN offered at Christie’s London, 24 June 1974, in the sale of the Frederick
Tang to Liao dynasty Mayer Collection of Chinese Art, lot 138.
Well cast, the deity stands erect, with two primary arms held before
the body in the vitarka mudra, the body issuing 36 further arms In The Thousand-armed Avalokitesvara, New Dehli, 1988, pg.
grasping various auspicious objects, the head crowned with a large 48, Lokesh Chandra notes that the thousand-armed depiction of
tiara, clothed in flowing robes, the reverse displaying a secondary face Avalokiteshvara first appeared in Chinese art during the reign of the
and a pair of arms clasped above the head, the body flanked by two first Tang emperor, Tang Gaozu (AD 618-626). The depiction was
dramaticly scrolling scarves, the surface with a number of hollows then was promulgated throughout Asia over the next several hundred
which most likely originally housed gems. years, spreading through Central Asia and Japan.
2 1/4in (5.7cm) high
US$3,000 - 5,000
唐至遼 銅鎏金千手觀音站像
CHINESE WORKS OF ART AND PAINTINGS | 45
