Lot Essay
Stylistically, this fleshy stone head of Guanyin can be related to the Longmen type of the early 8th century, which display similar crisply carved features and elaborate high topknots. In particular, the 'yellowish brown dressing' that appears to cover the stone surface, can be associated with examples of the Qinan cave in the Eastern Hills, Longmen. Compare the similar limestone head in the Avery Brundage Collection, illustrated by René-Yvon Lefebvre d'Argencé, Chinese, Korean and Japanese Sculpture, 1974, p.222, no.110.