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Lot Essay
Heian-period sculptures, especially of this size, rarely appear on the art market. It is likely a twelve-century work made in the style of earlier examples.
Kannon, the bodhisattva of mercy, gained popularity from an early period. Often depicted holding a lotus flower or a water vessel in the raised left hand (now lost), Kannon's image evolved over time. In earlier works, the body and drapery were accentuated by the distinctive rolling-wave drapery folds (known as honpa-shiki), featuring rounded large waves alternating with sharply edged small waves. By the mid-eleventh century, these features had softened and flattened. For instance, the honpa-shiki folds between the legs in this sculpture are less pronounced, a distinctive trait of the Fujiwara style. While sculptures from earlier periods exude powerful forms, Fujiwara-style sculptures are characterized by their elegant and graceful features.
Kannon, the bodhisattva of mercy, gained popularity from an early period. Often depicted holding a lotus flower or a water vessel in the raised left hand (now lost), Kannon's image evolved over time. In earlier works, the body and drapery were accentuated by the distinctive rolling-wave drapery folds (known as honpa-shiki), featuring rounded large waves alternating with sharply edged small waves. By the mid-eleventh century, these features had softened and flattened. For instance, the honpa-shiki folds between the legs in this sculpture are less pronounced, a distinctive trait of the Fujiwara style. While sculptures from earlier periods exude powerful forms, Fujiwara-style sculptures are characterized by their elegant and graceful features.