A RARE GILT AND LACQUERED BRONZE FIGURE OF GUANYIN MING DYNASTY, ZHENGDE PERIOD, DATED 1515

cast seated with legs crossed on a rectangular pedestal, her left hand held in dhyanamudra holding a medicine bowl and her right hand raised in abhayamudra, crowned in a tiara enclosing the high chignon, her face with a benevolent expression with downcast eyes, dressed in long fitted robes with chest adorned with beaded necklaces, a Buddhist lion with stylised curvy mane lying recumbent before the deity, the back inscribed Zhengde shi nian zao (made in the 10^{th year of Zhengde, corresponding to 1515) and a twenty-four character inscription reading kaixin shanren Li Jincheng Yang shi Li erjie Liu Wei muqin Jing shi kaixin zao fo yi zun (The happy and charitable Li Jincheng's wife with surname Yang, the second sister of the Li family Liu Wei, and her mother with surname Jing happily commissioned a Buddhist statue)}

Sotheby's London, 10th October 1972, lot 8.

The Guanyin has several areas of loss including the tip of the central spike of the tiara (1 x 1cm) and the tip of the tassel falling from the tiara (1 x 0.5cm). There are minor casting flaws such as a 1.5 x 0.3 area of loss to the hair of the figure just beneath the chignon, other tiny nicks and nibbling. The gilding and red lacquer is largely rubbed and worn.
"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."