.jpg?w=1)
Lot Essay
Buddhism after the Tang Dynasty lost its momentum and folk believe became an important aspect of it. This resulted in the popularity of the god Guanyin as embodiment of Compassion. Uptil than Guanyin or Avalokitesvara was always regarded as a male figure. The male aspect turned into a female aspect and which became more popular from the Song Dynasty onwards. However during this transitional -Song- period it is sometimes rather difficult to establish his/her identity. The lines are not clearly defined, which counts also for the face. This androgynes feeling we also find with the Guanyin under review. It shares both male and female qualities and therefore perfectly represents the Universal Piety.
This Guanyin was probably carved during the Southern Song period as it shows more Indian influences than the Northern Song sculptural tradition as one can see with both next two lotnumbers (lot 17 and 18). This example can be compared with one sold through our New York rooms on March 20 and 21, 1997, as lot 354. The similarities are striking. The only difference is that this one is circa nine centimeter shorter. It is not to be excluded that both sculptures were done by the same artist or at least came from the same workshop.
This Guanyin was probably carved during the Southern Song period as it shows more Indian influences than the Northern Song sculptural tradition as one can see with both next two lotnumbers (lot 17 and 18). This example can be compared with one sold through our New York rooms on March 20 and 21, 1997, as lot 354. The similarities are striking. The only difference is that this one is circa nine centimeter shorter. It is not to be excluded that both sculptures were done by the same artist or at least came from the same workshop.