Lot Essay
There appears to be very extensive gilding remaining under a layer of incense smoke patination and some areas of old reddish-gold shallow lacquering.
CHINESE METALWORK
THE PROPERTY OF A LADY
A LARGE MING GILT-BRONZE FIGURE OF GUANYIN, seated in rajalilasana on a qilin with its head turned back and its tail swept upwards, with jewelled harness and tasselled saddle-blanket, on a rockwork base, the right arm supported on the raised right leg, the left arm on a three-legged arm-rest, the hand holding the blossoming lotus stem, wearing elaborate robes and shawl with lotus borders open at the chest to reveal an ornate beaded necklace, the face with calm expression, the hair tied up in a triple topknot with long plaits falling over the shoulders, all beneath an openwork tiara centred by the Buddha Amitabha, traces of colour remaining (minor old damages),
Details
A LARGE MING GILT-BRONZE FIGURE OF GUANYIN, seated in rajalilasana on a qilin with its head turned back and its tail swept upwards, with jewelled harness and tasselled saddle-blanket, on a rockwork base, the right arm supported on the raised right leg, the left arm on a three-legged arm-rest, the hand holding the blossoming lotus stem, wearing elaborate robes and shawl with lotus borders open at the chest to reveal an ornate beaded necklace, the face with calm expression, the hair tied up in a triple topknot with long plaits falling over the shoulders, all beneath an openwork tiara centred by the Buddha Amitabha, traces of colour remaining (minor old damages),
16th Century
66.5cm. high
16th Century
66.5cm. high
Provenance
Exported from the Czech Republic in 1945 and then by descent to the present owner