The present example can be compared to the wood figure sold in our Hong Kong Rooms, 18 March 1991, lot 343, which is seated in the same 'royal ease' position. The present figure is approximately half the size of such life-sized figures, popular from the 10th-14th centuries and associated with Shanxi Province. Another similar image illustrated in Buddhism, Art and Faith, edited by W. Zwalf, p.206, no.296, shares the delicate-limbed and relaxed qualities of the present figure. In his description Derek Gillman traces the style of these sculptures back to late 7th and 8th century Tang sculpture at the Tailong shan caves, Taiyuan, modern Shanxi Province. The shuiyue (Water Moon) Guanyin in the Avery Brundage collection, illustrated in the Catalogue, pp.274-5, no.144, bears some striking similarities with the present example. The face, particularly, bears the same dignity and restraint, while the head and chest ornamentation are similar. The elaborate crown of the shuiyue Guanyin also contains an image of Amitabha, the spiritual father of Guanyin, while the upper part of the body has the same scarf draped gracefully over the shoulders and a similar jewelled pendant comprising of medallions, tassels and pearl chains. A Guanyin sold in our Hong Kong Rooms, 10 October 1990, lot 1938, wears a similar chest pendant made up of medallions and pearl chains. An image of Guanyin illustrated by Eskenazi, Catalogue June-July 1977, pp.46-7, no.30, also wears a very similar jewelled pendant