19th C. Chinese Blanc de Chine Porcelain Guanyin

**Originally Listed At $250**

East Asia, China, Republic, ca. late 19th century CE. A gorgeous porcelain statue in the style known as Blanc de Chine of a Bodhisattva (also Guanyin, Guan Yin, Kuanyin in Chinese), the goddess of kindness, compassion, and mercy. The elegant woman stands on an integral plinth, while holding 2 intricately-formed flowers. Enveloped in a lustrous glaze of snowy white, the beautiful figure wears a floor-length robe that cascades down her body in long folds and a short cape that hangs from her shoulders and flares at her elbows. Her sweet visage features slender eyes under an arched brow, a naturalistic nose, and petite bowed lips, all beneath a graceful top bun. As she holds the ends of both flower stems with her left hand, her right arm rests before her, gently bent at the elbow with her right hand partially closed in a delicate gesture, perhaps a mudra. Note how her right hand is also detachable, as owners of examples like this one would take the hand with them to act as a protective charm when leaving the house. Size: 3.25" in diameter x 12.75" H (8.3 cm x 32.4 cm)

A single bare foot peaks out from under her robes, as she stands atop a circular object with undulating edges resembling a lily pad. Her cylindrical plinth flares at its base and is decorated by four beautiful flowers with sinuous stems.

Bodhisattvas are among the most compassionate beings in the universe, devoting themselves to saving the suffering and helping others achieve enlightenment and Buddhahood. Traditionally depicted as less austere than Buddhas with graceful postures and elegant garments, a nod to the riches of the Northwestern Chinese Silk Road, this piece is no exception. Bodhisattvas or Guanyin are associated with compassion and mercy - their long ears significant, because they rescue all human beings by hearing their cries for help and the sounds of suffering.

Provenance: private Evergreen, Colorado, collection, USA; ex-private Denver, Colorado, USA, collection, acquired 1960 to 2000

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.

PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance), we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm.

Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.

#163056
Condition Report: Head repaired from three pieces and reattached with break lines visible. Right hand detachable and missing tips of two fingers. Tip of tulip petal missing on base. Otherwise, very nice.