A lyrical Quan Yin in Nepalese style, with towering chignon and crown, ornamented with strings of jewels cascading over the figure, an apron of bone beads at the front and swaying drapery at the back, and holding the stem of a large open lotus which rests at her shoulder. The carving depicts an austere and upright presence whose formality is softened by the long curving lotus stem and the graceful gesture of the right hand, lowered in generosity of the varada mudra, communicating the boundless compassion of Quan Yin. Imbued with unusual stillness, this slender figure, culminating in the beautifully rendered head with its almost Grecian profile and downcast eyes, possesses a deep pensiveness that is illuminated by the veil of gold that covers its surface.