A RARE MASSIVE BRONZE GUANYIN SEATED ON A LOTUS BASE

THE PROPERTY OF A GENTLEMAN

Details

A RARE MASSIVE BRONZE GUANYIN SEATED ON A LOTUS BASE
MING DYNASTY

Seated in padmasana, dressed in flowing robes with floral-pattern borders, the face set in a serene expression, eyes downcast, the elongated ears with pendent jewels and ribbons trailing down the shoulders, the right hand resting on the knee and in vitarkamudra, the left hand held up with palm open in front of the waist, the foliate crown with five small figures of Amitabha, each seated within a mandorla studded with three pearls, the sensitively cast base in the shape of a five-tiered lotus blossom--overall height 84in. (213.5cm.)

Lot Essay

Compare the larger bronze figure (312cm. high overall) of this type seated on a similar lotus base, but representing Buddha rather than Guanyin, from the Nitta Collection, included in the Special Exhibition, The Crucible of Compassion and Wisdom, National Palace Museum, Taipei, 1987, pl. 113 (center). Compare, also, the massive bronze Buddha of this type seated on a similar base, but of smaller overall size (157.5cm. high), sold in these rooms December 1, 1983, lot 836