A GILT BRONZE FIGURE OF THE FOUR-ARMED GUANYIN, SHADAKSHARI AVALOKITESHVARA, 17TH CENTURY, DE-ACCESSED BY THE CHANG FOUNDATION

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A GILT BRONZE FIGURE OF THE FOUR-ARMED GUANYIN, SHADAKSHARI AVALOKITESHVARA, 17TH CENTURY, DE-ACCESSED BY THE CHANG FOUNDATION Published & Exhibited: James Spencer, Buddhist Images in Gilt Metal, Chang Foundation, Taipei, 1993, no. 45. Tibetan-Chinese. Finely cast, seated in dhyanasana atop a double-lotus base, the primary hands held before the chest in namaskara mudra, a gesture of reverence and unified devotion, while the secondary hands are raised to the level of the shoulders, each holding a bodhi bead of a mala, emphasizing meditative recitation and the bodhisattva's salvific power. The deity is richly adorned with turquoise- and coral-inlaid beaded jewelry and clad in an elaborately patterned shawl and a flowing dhoti. A billowing celestial scarf is draped around the shoulders and arms, its ends cascading gracefully to the base; additionally, a flayed antelope is draped over the left shoulder. The serene face bears a compassionate expression, with downcast eyes beneath gently arched brows, a slender nose, and pursed lips forming a subtle smile, all flanked by elongated earlobes suspending foliate pendant earrings. The hair is neatly arranged in a high chignon behind a five-pointed diadem, surmounted by the head of Amitabha Buddha. Dimensions: Height 17.7 cm With a fitted brocade box. (2) Shadakshari Avalokitesvara is the four-armed manifestation of the great bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara, known as Guanyin in China, while often regarded as the patron deity of Tibet: the Dalai Lamas are deemed to be earthly incarnations of the bodhisattva. This form of Avalokiteshvara is popular with the Gelukpa order of Tibetan Buddhism that was favored by the Qing court. The deity’s principal hands are held before the heart in the anjali mudra of respectful salutation, with the two outer hands holding the bhodi bead from a rosary representing enlightenment. Amitabha emerges from the hair as a symbol of Avalokiteshvara’s spiritual lineage and the wisdom of all Buddhas. He wears the flayed skin of a mythological deer (krishnasara) draped over the left shoulder as a symbol of benevolence (maitri): the hind legs of the deer can be seen emerging from beneath the shawl covering the shoulders at the back of the bodhisattva. The worship of Shadakshari dates back to at least the eleventh century in eastern India. Shadakshari is believed to be the embodiment of the Buddhist mantra om mani padme hum, (“hail to the jewel in the lotus”). These six syllables represent the six realms of existence: Om is white and stands for the god realm; ma is green and stands for the demigod or Asura realm; ni is yellow and stands for the human realm; pad is blue and stands for the animal realms; me is red and stands for hungry ghost realm; hum is black and stands for the hell realm. Shadakshari ushers all beings from the six realms into enlightenment. Literature comparison: Compare a related later gilt-bronze figure of four-armed Avalokiteshvara, dated second half 18th century, 22.5 cm high, in the National Museum in Warsaw, inventory number SKAZsz 201 MNW. Note how in such later examples, the jewelry is cast and no longer inlaid like in the present lot. Auction result comparison: Type: Closely related Auction: Christie’s New York, 21 March 2012, lot 814 Price: USD 40,000 or approx. EUR 51,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Expert remark: Compare the related modeling, manner of casting, and gilding, and closely related size (17 cm). Note how in this later example, the jewelry is cast and no longer inlaid like in the present lot. Auction result comparison: Type: Closely related Auction: Sotheby’s New York, 20 March 2019, lot 691 Price: USD 40,000 or approx. EUR 46,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Expert remark: Compare the closely related modeling, manner of casting, gilding, and size (17 cm).

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