This antique red oak depiction of the bodhisattva Shuiyue Quan Yin evokes grace and beauty. Here the goddess of compassion reclines gracefully in the cusp of the new moon. Her luscious full moon face is up-tilted as though she is basking in the light of the stars. She exudes comfort and ease. Her body is sumptuous and beautifully draped with flowing cloth that curls into the waves of the sea. The delicacy of the figure is in contrast with bulkiness of the rocks. The tension this creates adds a unique element to this statue. The back of the statue lays bare the natural grains and surfaces of the oak. This early 20th century Chinese statue combines beauty and nature’s vitality into a beatific reflection of this beloved boddhisattva. (SD)