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A RARE SILK AND METAL-WRAPPED THREAD EMBROIDERED
PANEL OF GUANYIN AND ATTENDANTS
Early Qing dynasty
Embroidered in satin stitch with silk floss to portray Guanyin beneath
a celestial canopy strung with fluttering knotted ribbons, seated
in lalitasana on a recumbent mythical beast, the right hand held in
karanamudra, the left hand resting on a stack of sutras, the face with a
solemn expression given a three-dimensional effect by the batting-filled
nose, the attendants Longnu and Shancai standing to the left and right
respectively, Longnu holding the darkness-dispeling pearl and Shancai
with hands clasped in anjalimudra, all the figures depicted on a terrace
between a lotus pond and a balustrade, Guanyin’s vase bearing stalks
of willow and the filial parrot each resting on the top of one balustrade
post on either side of the central figure, some details outline with
metal foil-wrapped threads, mounted with pale blue silk borders with
reinforced backing.
36 1/2 x 16 5/8in (92.7 x 42.2cm)

US$20,000 - 30,000

清初 刺繡觀音圖掛屏

Provenance
Reverend Dr. Adolph H. Behrenberg (1914-1977), Metuchen, New
Jersey
Aalten’s Orange Auction Galleries, East Orange, N.J., Estate sale of Dr.
Adolph Behrenberg, 12 March 1978, lot 358
Estate of Sydney L. Shaper

來源
新澤西州Adolph H. Behrenberg 醫生牧師（1914-1977年）珍藏
新澤西州Aalten’s Orange Auction Galleries，Adolph H. Behrenberg 醫
生牧師珍藏拍賣，1978年3月12日，拍品編號358
Sydney L. Shaper 舊藏

Guanyin is the most popular Buddhist deity in China, and according to
the Lotus sutra, Guanyin can take any form necessary to save sentient
beings. Thirty-three forms are mentioned in the sutra, but this particular
grouping of Guanyin with Longnu and Shancai, accompanied by the
filial parrot has no basis in Buddhist scripture but instead finds its
roots in numerous precious scroll narratives, folk tales and legends
concerning Guanyin.

In the Chinese Mahayana tradition, it is believed that the two acolytes
each represent one of the important sutras of that tradition. Shancai
personifies the Avatamsaka Sutra, while Longnu represents the Lotus
Sutra. The parrot represents the most important of Chinese virtues,
filial piety, and appears in the Yingge Baozhuan (The Precious Scroll
of the Parrot). Guanyin’s vase is believed to hold the elixir of life and
the willow with its evil dispelling properties is used to sprinkle the elixir
when Guanyin dispenses blessings.

Such Chinese folk tales surrounding Guanyin were so popular that
elements from these folk tales made their way into the popular
iconography of Guanyin.

A Late Ming dynasty example depicting a Daoist deity seated
beneath a celestial canopy and flanked by two attendants was sold at
Sotheby’s London, 6 November 2019, lot 345. 83

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