AN INSCRIBED MARBLE FIGURE OF AVALOKITESHVARA EASTERN WEI DYNASTY, DATED IN ACCORDANCE WITH 543

carved in high relief standing on an upturned lotus base and backed against a mandorla, all supported on a rectangular plinth, the deity dressed in long robes draping in ample flaring folds from the shoulders, slightly open at the chest revealing a diagonal undergarment, with two longer scarves intersecting in knots through a bi disc at the navel before looping over the thighs, his left arm pendent grasping a yue axe and the raised right hand holding a lotus bud against his chest, his face with delicate features caught in a peaceful expression, below hair tied in a chignon secured with a tiara and flanking ribbons trailing down his shoulders, the marble with an ochre patina accented by remains of black pigment, the base inscribed on all four sides with a dedicatory inscription, originally on the left side and continued on the back, dated to the fourth day of the seventh month in the first year of the Wuding period of the Wei dynasty (corresponding to AD 543)

Collection of the Yao family, Tianjin, late Qing to Republican period.
Acquired between the 1950s and 60s.

Lu Xun jijiao shike shougao [Manuscript of inscriptions on stone edited and proofread by Lu Xun], Shanghai, 1987, case 2, vol. 2, p. 335 (text description only).

There is wear consistent with age and old truncated sections visible on the catalogue illustration.The figure has been broken and reglued horizontally across the forelegs and mandorla (old restoration).
"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 inscription can be translated:
On the fourth day of the seventh month in the first year of the Wuding period, Wei dynasty [corresponding to AD 543], Buddhist follower Li Ciming made a Guanyin figure from white jade for his deceased son Li Nayan.
Three white jade figures were in the family collection of An Shi in Guxian village, Qianqiu town, Zaoqiang county, Jizhou. Later on the 23rd day of the second month during the first year of the Yuanfeng period [corresponding to AD 1078, Northern Song dynasty], a group of talents Ma, Liang and Zhao [surnames] brought with them [these] three white jade figures, and built a Buddhist temple with pagoda to enshrine them. Hence [this is inscribed] to record.

A closely related Eastern Wei period marble figure of Avalokitesvara was included in the exhibition Ancient Chinese Sculpture, Eskenazi, 1981, cat. no. 2, from the Michon collection, Paris; and another standing figure of this type and dated in accordance with AD 545 is illustrated in Rokuchō no bijustu, Osaka, 1976, col. pl. 55. See also a figure dated AD 541 published in Yang Boda and Wango Wen, Treasures of the Forbidden City, New York, 1982, pl. 132, together with a seated Buddha figure, dated equivalent to AD 540, pl. 131, unearthed at Xiude temple in Quyang, Hebei province where over 2,000 sculptures, including similar examples, dating from the Northern Wei to the late Tang period were discovered. A further closely related figure of Avalokitesvara, dated AD 541, is published in Matsubara Saburō, Chūgoku bukkyō chōkoku shi kenkyū/Chinese Buddhist Sculpture, Tokyo, 1966, pl. 120a. 

Compare also a marble stele carved with the figure of Avalokitesvara standing on a lotus pedestal against a mandorla, the base inscribed with a date corresponding to AD 543, included in the exhibition Chinese Buddhist Sculpture, Eskenazi, London, 1997, p. 10, cat. no. 1; and a marble figure of Avalokitesvara, dated in accordance with AD 541, sold at Christie’s Amsterdam, 16th June 1992, lot 87, and again at Christie’s Hong Kong, 29/30th September 1992, lot 895.