Circa: early Showa,1950s’
H 11 in. (28cm), W 3.5 in. (9cm), D 3.5 in. (9cm)
Condition: excellent!
Statues of Kannon inspire a greater affection in Japan than do any other Buddhist figures. As in this representation of the Bodhisattva of Compassion, Kannon Bosatsu appears as a youthful maiden. She dressed in a Tang-style Chinese long robe. Her hands are hidden in a secret mudra inside long sleeves, forming a harmonious flow of perfect symmetry. The Bizen okimono is beautifully modeled. It has an ironlike hardness from prolonged high heat, infused with varied unglazed colors from semi-gloss earthen reddish-brown to a natural dark umber, with traces of molten ash glaze on a semi-gloss silken surface, and mellow texture markings resulting from skilled wood-burning kiln firing. Overall the okimono is in excellent condition.