This large and impressive head in dark lacquered wood conveys eloquently the supreme compassion of Kuan Yin, the goddess of mercy. Her eyes look down from the heavens to search out the suffering of sentient beings. Her face is carved in classic simple curves and bears a slight smile. Her hair is piled in a high chignon, fronted with a headdress bearing an image of Amitabha Buddha, of whom she is an emanation. The dark wood is splashed with touches of the original gilding, imbuing an ethereal luminosity that balances the weight and massiveness of this beautifully made and powerful sculpture.