PROVENANCE:
Private collection, Europe

In Buddhism, bodhisattva has a lot of incarnations, each one representing an idea of the religion, and acting as expressions of bodhisattva’s passion and wisdom. The special feature of Avalokitesvara is that, different from the dignified and rigid posture of the usual Buddhist figures, Avalokitesvara appears to be free and unrestricted. Avalokitesvara is a bodhisattva who embodies the compassion of all Buddhas, often adopted as the topic of Buddhist arts. This figure has round face with full cheeks and down-casted eyes, a pearl necklace adorning her neck, appearing dignified, generous and elegant. The figure’s wearing a kasaya on the upper body and a long skirt the lower half, seated with her left hand leaning on the ground and right hand casually put on her right knee. The wood figure is nicely preserved with the skirts draping down the seat naturally.