A POLYCHROME WOOD SCULPTURE OF GUANYIN

12/13th century AD
Song dynasty
China

The Bodhisattva is seated in rajalila asana upon a rock, the right leg raised, the left leg down; the right arm rests on the raised knee in a relaxed position with the left arm straight and the hand lying flat on the rock, supporting the weight of the figure. The Bodhisattva wears loose robes which cover the left shoulder and arm - falling down to the exposed feet, and leaving the right shoulder, arm and chest exposed. The chest is adorned with an elaborate necklace formed of ruyi scrolls, the exposed arm with a wrist and arm bracelet, and below both knees are beaded chains over the robes. The hair is tied back and raised into a chignon - a plaited braid falling in front of each ear, which breaks into three strands over each shoulder. The chignon is surrounded by a bejewelled crown - the front of which bears an image of Amitabha Buddha - and the face has an expression of deep inward concentration.

Height: 131cm / 51 ½”

Provenance: The Mount Trust Collection, Berkshire, England.

Published: ‘Transactions of the Oriental Ceramics Society’ 1955-56, 1956-57 - figure 384.

Similar example: ‘An introduction to the Study of Chinese Sculpture’ by Leigh Ashton - Ernest Benn Ltd, London MCM XXIV - Frontispiece: Plate LIX, from the Eumorfopoulos Collection.