A Silver-Inlaid Bronze Guanyin Qing Dynasty, 18th / 19th Century

elegantly seated in a gentle sway, her serene face turned to her left, dressed in long flowing robes draped from the shoulders and falling in undulous folds open at the chest, her arms gathered under the robe over her raised right knee, the fabric subtly patterned with ruyi-shaped clouds and hemmed with 'classic' scrolls, all picked out in silver inlay, the backside of the robe centred with a two-character mark Shisou

The bronze figure is in overall good condition. There are some occasional minor dents in the cast, some traces of malachite oxidization in the recesses or light pitting in areas.
"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."

This sensitively rendered model of Guanyin is closely related to models of Guanyin in Dehua porcelain, ivory and soapstone models, all of them from Fujian province. During the sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries, the cult of the White-Robed Guanyin, originating in Fujian, was extremely popular, resulting in a proliferation of figures produced in different media.