A large Chinese figure of Avalokitesvara painted in the green Fahua palette. Ming

The bodhisattva Avalokitesvara (Guanyin) is seated on a lotus pedestal in the maharaja-lila, the posture of the “royal ease”, with the right knee raised and the left sole turned up, the right hand pointing down in the bhumisparsa-mudra, the “gesture of earth witness”, the left hand resting in the lap with inward-bent thumb in the dhyana-mudra, the “meditation pose“. The fleshy face has soft features, the long ears are adorned with earrings and the hair is parted in the middle and wound up to a hight topknot with two braided stands falling over the shoulders. The skin and hair are left in the biscuit and show traces of guilding. The figure wears an elaborate tiara, two pendant ribbons on either side, a short cap over the shoulders, a long skirt gathered at the waist with a sash and a necklace with three long pearl strings with lozenge ornaments adorning the bare chest and bangles on the upper arms and writs. Avalokitesvara is accompanied by two attendants on each side of the sculpture. Behind is a mandorla with flames carved in relief with a cloud motif applied on either side, one supporting  an unglazed birds, and the other a vase.

Related works

For a very similar model but decorated in turquoise au aubergine, see Regina Krahl, Chinese Ceramics: The Anthony de Rothschild Collection, 1996, no. 96, p. 166/167.

Notice

This sculpture of Avalokitesvara was very likely used as altar piece for devotion. Combining sculpted image and incense burner was very popular during the Ming dynasty (1368-1644).