Painted Wood Carved Water-Moon Guanyin Statue, Song Dynasty,12th-13th Century Song Dynasty Polychrome Wood Sculpture Of Contemplative Guanyin

拍品描述

Dimensions: 119 cm (46.85 inches) in total height, 70 cm (27.56 inches) in maximum width, 12th-13th century Song Dynasty painted wood carving of the Water-Moon Guanyin Bodhisattva. Condition and Provenance: This statue is carved from a single piece of solid hardwood, retaining the original mineral pigments. The Bodhisattva is in the classic relaxed and contemplative Water-Moon posture, wearing an intricately carved multi-layered crown, layered pearl necklaces and jewels, and a finely crafted multi-layered robe, seated on a hollowed-out natural rock base. A square niche is carved on the back of the statue. Traces of the original mineral pigments, such as vermilion red, malachite green, and gilding, are still visible on the wood surface. There are no structural cracks, major damage, or signs of severe restoration. All original components, including the crown, jewels, hands, feet, and rock base, are intact and complete. Only minor natural peeling of the ancient pigment layers exists; there has been no modern repainting, splicing, or excessive restoration. This sculpture, previously consigned for sale by a historic antique Buddhist art gallery in Bangkok, entered the possession of a private collector of ancient Buddhist sculptures in California, USA, in 2023. California, Bangkok, and Paris are major global centers for the trading of Chinese antique Buddhist sculptures. Description: This Song Dynasty painted wooden Water-Moon Guanyin statue is a museum-quality masterpiece of ancient Chinese wooden Buddhist sculpture, having been exported to Western collectors. Also known as a Guanyin Bodhisattva statue, it represents the most popular form of Guanyin statues during the Song Dynasty, embodying compassionate meditation and contemplation of worldly suffering. The entire statue is carved from a single solid piece of hardwood, showcasing exquisite craftsmanship. The Bodhisattva leans against a rugged stone platform, one leg hanging down, the other bent and raised, her elbow lightly touching her raised knee, her palm gently supporting her cheek. Her gaze is softly lowered, her face full and compassionate, radiating a serene and peaceful aura, perfectly embodying the delicate and refined beauty unique to Song Dynasty figurative art. The multi-layered, openwork crown is exquisitely carved, with a miniature Buddha statue enshrined at its center; the hair and flowing ribbons are depicted with fluid, natural strokes. Layered pearl necklaces dangle from the chest, waist, and thighs, intricate yet orderly. A silk robe drapes the body, its deep folds naturally conforming to the Bodhisattva's posture; the exquisite carving contrasts to create a dramatic sense of depth and lifelike folds. The stone pedestal supporting the Bodhisattva is also openwork, filled with serrated cavities mimicking the texture of natural rocks, the rough carving contrasting sharply with the Bodhisattva's graceful lines. A square niche is carved on the back of the Buddha statue, a common style in large Song Dynasty wooden Buddha statues, used to hold scriptures or relics for devotees to worship. Nearly a thousand years have passed, and the original mineral pigments have naturally faded, but traces of cinnabar, azurite blue, malachite green, and gilding are still clearly visible, adding a warm, antique hue to the wooden surface. Fine, shallow cracks are evenly distributed across the wood surface, with no through-cracks or missing sculptural parts—a truly rare state of preservation for a large Song Dynasty wooden Buddhist statue. Large Song Dynasty wooden Buddhist statues are extremely rare worldwide; most extant examples of their kind have suffered from decay, war damage, damage, or extensive modern restorations. This well-preserved large Buddhist statue demonstrates exquisite carving and restoration techniques, retaining its original appearance and traces of ancient pigments. It possesses immense religious, decorative, and academic research value, is a model of Song Dynasty sculpture, and is highly sought after by elite collectors of ancient Buddhist art in the West, making it a top-tier museum-quality antique wooden sculpture.

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