Guanyin Avalokiteshvara en bronze doré Chine, dynastie Ming, XVIE siècle

assise en vajraparyankasana dans une posture méditative les mains en dhyana mudra, coiffée d'une tiare au centre de laquelle apparait Amitabha, une parure de bodhisattva sur la poitrine, la robe attachée haut au dessus de la taille, son long drapé retombant sur le socle lotiforme, enveloppant son corps et recouvrant sa tête, couvrant l'ushinisha et sa couronne, le galon de la tunique finement ciselé de rinceaux floraux classique de la période Ming, l'expression sereine, les yeux mi-clos

French family collection since the 19th century

The colour of the gilding is more yellow, less "orange" than on the catalogue illustration. A section at the rear of the lotus pedestal is purposely left un-gilded ; the base has been unsealed and resealed with a later copper plate. Expected wear and rubbing to the gilding throughout, consistent with age (showing on the illustration in the catalogue) but overall the Guanyin is in good condition.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The presence of the diminutive figure of Amitabha in the tiara confirms the iconography of the statue, Amitabha being the spiritual progenitor of The Compassionate One, Lord of the World, the supreme bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara. He sits in a state of meditation on the predicament of the world, the embodiment of absolute compassion for all sentient beings with an infinite devotion to the alleviation of suffering. The robe draped over the head of the bodhisattva is an iconographic convention peculiar to Chinese Buddhism from at least the late Tang dynasty onwards in the depiction of the White-robed Guanyin.
The image is finely cast in the style of the second half of the Ming dynasty, and is richly fire-gilded beneath the accrued temple-worship patina. Compare a very similar Ming Dynasty example in the Nitta Collection, see The Crucible of Compassion and Wisdom: Special Exhibition Catalog of the Buddhist Bronzes from the Nitta Group Collection, National Palace Museum, Taiwan, 1987, p. 215, pl. 118 (fig.1).