1 / 2
Premium Maison de Vente Bürgi
64
-
Head of Guanyin (Avalokiteshvara)
See original version (French)
64
-
Head of Guanyin (Avalokiteshvara)
See original version (French)
Estimate €2,000 - €3,000
Voluntary lot
Description
Head of Guanyin (Avalokiteshvara)
China, cast iron
Ming period, probably 16th–17th century
H. 47 cm
An important head of Guanyin, the Bodhisattva of Compassion, depicted with a tall headdress in the shape of a lotus-petal crown, adorned with several petals in relief. At the centre of the headdress is a small effigy of Amitabha Buddha, an iconographic attribute characteristic of Guanyin.
The face, with its full and harmonious features, displays an expression of profound serenity, with half-closed eyes, a straight nose, a delicately drawn mouth and long earlobes. The deliberately powerful modelling of the features and the quality of the relief suggest a work intended to be viewed from multiple angles.
Cast iron, a particularly heavy and difficult material to work with, lends this head a remarkable monumental presence. The surface bears an ancient dark patina, with traces of oxidation and wear consistent with its age.
Height: 47 cm.
Dating
Based on this photograph alone, I would be slightly more cautious than with your Khmer sculptures. I would primarily date the work to the Ming period, around the 16th–17th centuries, rather than the Qing.
The shape of the crown, the very full-cheeked face and, above all, the cast iron with its strong sculptural presence are the features I would examine closely to confirm this attribution.
See original version (French)
Auto-translation. Refer to original language for legal validity.
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
You may also like