Page 106 - Yamanaka co Auction catalog

178-STATUETTE OF KUAN-YIN IN THREE COLORS (1l1ing)
A work of rare beauty in sculpture and in color. Pottery
of the Ming' period. The goddess of mercy is seated, with
knees spread and feet folded under, concealed by the robes
which support her clasped hands. The face is most care-
fully modeled, with an expression benign and humanly gra-
cious, and of great dignity. There is the slightest inclina-
tion of the head, and the quiet, reposeful glance is bent
indulgently downward. The ample robes open low before
the breast, and the cowl mounts over a high headdress.
The garments are in rich and brilliant glazes of the deepest,
fullest lapis-lazuli blue, and turquoise-green. Face, hands
and breast, and the tiara, are gilded, in a ripe, subdued
tone. The goddess is posed on a base exhibiting the same
glowing glazes as those in which her robes are represented,
turquoise-green and lapis, the base being modeled in an un-
usual form. Instead of rockery or a lotus throne, there
is here a dragon among swirling waves of the sea. The
backs of both figure and base are in a deep gold and rich
mahogany-brown lacquer effect.
HeightJ 21% inches.
(Illustrated)

179-MING THREE-COLOR TABLE SCREEN
A quadrilateral Ming porcelain tile with convex surface,
glazed in a brilliant and rich turquoise-blue which in places
shows the greenish-turquoise tint, and decorated in a gray
or creamy white, light yellow and aubergine with the figures
of two sages under a pine tree. Set in a teakwood standard
with openwork carving of dragons at either side of a j~,,-i
scepter-head.
Dimensions of tile, II % by II inches; height of SC1'eenJ 19% inches.