Antique
Chinese Carving
Quan Yin
Amida Buddha
on Crown
Origin: China. Circa:
early 1900s'
H
7 in.(17.5cm), W 3.5 in.(9cm), D 2.5 in.(6.4cm)
Total
Height including custom wood base 8.75 inches
Condition: minor age crack, o.a. very good! Quan-Yin
is the goddess of compassion. Abundantly popular throughout East Asia she is the
progenitor of good fortune, good luck and illumination. This graciously depicted
ivory evokes this feminine bodhisattva in a resonant gaze that communicates a
complete peace that is both lucid in its concentration and exquisite in its exaltations:
She is the call for those who contemplate her countenance to remember the beneficent
aspect of their own souls.
This early 19th century rendition of the goddess-boddhisattva Quan Yin
bespeaks of an extraordinary beauty. The artist has brought ivory to life in a
way that breathes supple grace into seemingly inert matter. The eyes are elegantly
and classically wrought as is the nose, the full lips and the youthful curves
of the chin. Quan-Yin’s ornate headdress serves as a centerpiece for two renditions
of the Amida Buddha, the ‘Buddha of immeasurable light’ who presides over the
Western Paradise and is deeply venerated in Pure Land Buddhism. Her ears are elongated
in an almost symbolic rendering. There are elegant folds in the subtle drop of
her veil at the back of her head. Two emblematic symbols of longevity on the back
of the diadem anchor the statue. The bust sits on a sturdy but delicately carved
rosewood base. This ivory evokes both beauty, artistry and deep presence. (SD) Private Collection
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