Lot Essay
This sculptural form of the tantric Avalokitesvara appeared as early as the 10th century, and can be seen on a carving of a standing multi-armed bodhisattva dated to the Northern Song dynasty (960-1127), in the Dinglongxing Temple, Hebei province, illustrated in Guanyin Baoxiang (Guanyin Treasured Images), Shanghai 1998, p.99.
Two Ming dynasty gilt-bronze examples of this type, although of smaller size (50.2 cm. and 32 cm. high respectively) were sold at Sotheby's Hong Kong, 1-2 December 1992, lot 200, and Christie's Hong Kong, 29-30 October 1995, lot 648.
Two Ming dynasty gilt-bronze examples of this type, although of smaller size (50.2 cm. and 32 cm. high respectively) were sold at Sotheby's Hong Kong, 1-2 December 1992, lot 200, and Christie's Hong Kong, 29-30 October 1995, lot 648.
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