Lot Essay
Another Buddhist head of Avalokitesvara carved from this distinct marble, bearing very similar vein-like inclusions, excavated in a western suburb of Xian, Shaanxi province in 1983, from the Forest of Stele's Museum, Xian, is illustrated in the exhibition, China, 5,000 Years, Guggenheim Museum, New York, 1998, Catalogue, no. 164 and used as a full illustrated divider page for the sculpture section. Another large marble sculpture of Manjusri from the same museum, unearthed in 1959 at the Anguo Temple site, Xian, Shaanxi province, illustrated, ibid, no. 172, bears a marked resemblance to the pouting lips and top-knot of our example.
Another small head of slightly earlier date from a similar stone was illustrated by Messrs. Eskenazi, Chinese Buddhist Sculpture, London, June - July, 1997, Catalogue, pp. 20 and 21, no. 5.
Another small head of slightly earlier date from a similar stone was illustrated by Messrs. Eskenazi, Chinese Buddhist Sculpture, London, June - July, 1997, Catalogue, pp. 20 and 21, no. 5.