Beschreibung:

A magnificent and important gilt bronze figure of Avalokitesvara China, Sui / early Tang Dynasty, 7th / 8th Century superbly modeled standing in sinuous tribhanga with the right hip thrust to the side and the left leg lightly bent and draped as if the deity was only just about to shift its weight, the legs wrapped in long dhoti belted at the waist below softly rolling flesh, leaving the torso bare and draped with ropes of jewels, the left arm hanging down bearing a bottle in its curling fingers and balanced by the right arm borne up with the long elegant fingers held open in a supremely relaxed and elegant gesture, the large head with eyes downcast in contemplative manner between the taut brows and bud mouth, all framed by large ears with long pendent lobes, the thick locks of hair drawn up in a high chignon secured by a tiara of three large foliate panels, with two locks of hair undulating down the shoulders flanked by long fluttering scarves, the drum pedestal set into a separate stepped base cast as a lotus flower with foliate wall incised with veins, encircled by pendent double-lobed lappets and widening steps of circular, foliate and octagonal section with 'jeweled' studs, a tang at the back of the deity's head securing a separate circular mandorla formed by radiating lobed lappets, a double-ring interrupted by 'jeweled' studs and a wide band of flames rising to a high peak, effectively conveying an illusion of flickering divine light Quantity: 3 15 1/4 in., 38.7 cm