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Gilt Silver Gold Lacquer
Wood Buddha
Guan
Yin
with Red Boy Sudhana
Origin:
China, Circa: 18th-early 19th Century
H
17.5" (45cm.), W 9" (23cm.), D 5" (12.5cm.)
Condition: hollow core, gilt losses This
finely carved piece is richly gilded in tones that have turned to rose gold and
vermilion. The two forms are held together by their movements which lean toward
one another. Quan Yin stands gracefully adorned in gold ornamented with linear
decorations in a lotus and water motif. The flouncing robe is beautifully edged
with floral and foliate designs, and exquisitely carved into falling folds of
multiple lengths with rippling edges. A rare and spectacular gem of Chinese wood
carving. Guanyin
is seen here with Red Boy who is jumping exuberantly on one foot, his hands held
together in prayer and a bright smile on his face. He is accompanied by the goddess
who bends slightly to him, as she stands with water vase and willow branch in
her left hand, a joo-i in her right. The joo-i is a scepter used here to symbolize
the mystic lotus, which is carved at the superior end. Private Collection |
| The
story goes that red boy was born as a lump of meat, which was cut open with a
sword by his father, and from which the child emerged wearing red silk trousers
which glowed with light and a magic golden bracelet on his right wrist. He was
an incarnation of Ling Chu-Tzu, “the Intelligent Pearl” and when he was seven
years old he was already six feet tall. He performed many miraculous deeds and
defeated the dragon king’s son, for which he was shamed by his father. Red Boy
responded by cutting the flesh from his body in remorse until he was reduced to
nothing. Seeing the suffering of Red Boy, Guanyin appeared and covered his remains
with lotus leaves, which revived him and reconstituted his body. From that moment
he became a dharmapala, a fierce protector of the faith. |
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| Estimate
Value: $2500 | |
