A GILT-BRONZE FIGURE OF A MULTI-ARMED AVALOKITESVARA 17TH / 18TH CENTURY

finely cast seated in dhyanasana on a double-lotus pedestal, the principal hands held in uttarabodhimudra, two more hands held in the lap to support a now-missing kalasha vessel, the remaining fourteen arms separately-cast in two groups of seven fanning out from the body, each hand poised to hold a different attribute, clad in a long scarf and dhoti with chased borders, adorned with elaborate jewelry, the full serene face with a recessed urna, beneath hair pulled into a curled chignon, fronted by an intricate openwork foliate tiara centered with an image of Amitabha

Collection of Nils Nessim.

The arms fanning out behind the figure are cast separately as two units and are loose. There are signs of past attempts to secure them with adhesive. They are currently secured with pins. There are losses to the attribute supported in the hands on the lap and the attributes held in the other hands, as well as to most of the inlay. There is wear to the gilded surface and minor encrustation, heavier on the base plate. An approximately 2.5 cm section of the lip holding the base plate is missing, and there are small chips around the edge of the lip. There is a rectangular casting patch on the side of the lotus throne and some minor casting flaws in the hair. There is a serial number inscribed on the base in pigment.
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.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

The small figure of Amitabha in the tiara identifies the bodhisattva as Avalokiteshvara, known in Chinese as Guanyin, the most celebrated and popular figure of worship in East Asian Mahayana Buddhism.

Avalokitesvara is the bodhisattva of compassion and can be portrayed in many forms. The Lotus sutra mentions thirty-three forms, but folk tales and legends created many more. The multiple-armed manifestations belong to esoteric Buddhism and were inherited from Indian religious traditions.  The multiple arms symbolize the many powers the bodhisattva has for saving the world and helping devotees attain enlightenment.

The present figure is unusual in that it combines the Han Chinese charateristics commonly seen in Ming dynasty images of Guanyin, such as the intricate openwork headdress incorporating a figure of Amitabha, with the figural style found in Tibet and Nepal, displaying the slim waist, elegant arms, jewelry and clothing. That style was popular during the Yongle period of the Ming dynasty and was also the style favoured by the Qing court.