A large and impressive gilt bronze figure of Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara/Guanyin, Ming dynasty (1368-1644).
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Cast seated in dhyanasana holding a ruyi-head sceptre in the left and right hands, wearing a long floral-edged robe falling in folds around the legs and open at the chest to reveal elaborate beaded jewellery. The serene face with downcast eyes below high arched brows and a small smiling bud mouth, all framed by a high pierced pointed tiara/crown with part of the hair swept up in a high ushnisha, part of the hair cascading down around the shoulders. The inside painted with an iron red consecration colour. Height 51 cm.
Wear to gilding.
Provenance
From the Collection of Heidi Boyce Broström (1943-2022) and Dan Axel Broström (1915-1976).
Dan Axel Broström was the third-generation ship-owner in the prestigious Broström Company group. When he took over the firm in 1949 they had 18 000 employees.
The Canadian model and geologist Heidi was Dan-Axel Broströms third wife, the couple lived at the fashionable Särö, a few miles south of Gothenburg.
The images depicted in the catalogue is from their home at Särö.
Exhibitions
Compare a slightly smaller, later, Chiristes, lot 18, 7 nov 2017, Sale 13982. Fine Chinese Ceramics & Works of Art.
Compare one, that is partly gilded lot no 130, sold at Sothebys, Important Chinese Art, 09 November 2016 • London, Sale Number: L16212.
Compare a smaller Guanyin at the Metropolitan Museum, Rogers Fund, 1912. Accession Number: 12.37.160
Literature
Stylistically this figure follows in the sculptural tradition of the Yuan dynasty (1279-1368), when Tibetan Buddhism became the court religion. The Mongol court intensified political, religious and artistic contacts with Tibet, which resulted in the emergence of a new style of Buddhist art. With the founding of the Ming dynasty, Tibetan-Buddhist sculptures continued to exert a strong influence, and under the patronage of the Yongle Emperor (r. 1403-1424), Tibetan and Nepalese artisans were employed in Beijing to furnish the halls and palaces in the newly-established capital.
More information
Avalokitesvara is the most popular bodhisattva in Mahayana Buddhism, and is known in China as Guanyin, short for Guanshiyin (The one who perceives the sounds of the world). As the earthly manifestation of Amitabha Buddha, his crown features an image of a meditating Amithaba. Guanyin is described in Chapter 25 of the Lotus Sutra, first translated in Chinese in AD 286, where the bodhisattva is referred to as Lokesvara (Lord of the world) and Lokenath (Lord and protector of all beings). In this text, Buddha describes Guanyin as the one who compassionately provides release and deliverance to all those that suffer.
