Gilt Silver Gold Lacquer Wood Buddha
Kannon
Child Protector Bosatsu
Origin: Japanese Edo, Circa: 18th Century
H 17.5" (45cm.), W 9" (23cm.), D 5" (12.5cm.)
Condition: hollow core, gilt losses

This finely carved piece is richly gilded in tones that have turned to rose gold and vermilion. The two forms are held together by their movements which lean toward one another. Kannon (Quan Yin) stands gracefully adorned in gold ornamented with linear decorations in a lotus and water motif. The flouncing robe is beautifully edged with floral and foliate designs, and exquisitely carved into falling folds of multiple lengths with rippling edges. A rare and spectacular gem of Chinese wood carving.

Kannon is seen here with Red Boy who is jumping exuberantly on one foot, his hands held together in prayer and a bright smile on his face. He is accompanied by the goddess who bends slightly to him, as she stands with water vase and willow branch in her left hand, a joo-i in her right. The joo-i is a scepter used here to symbolize the mystic lotus, which is carved at the superior end.

Estimate Value: $1800
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The story goes that red boy was born as a lump of meat, which was cut open with a sword by his father, and from which the child emerged wearing red silk trousers which glowed with light and a magic golden bracelet on his right wrist. He was an incarnation of Ling Chu-Tzu, “the Intelligent Pearl” and when he was seven years old he was already six feet tall. He performed many miraculous deeds and defeated the dragon king’s son, for which he was shamed by his father. Red Boy responded by cutting the flesh from his body in remorse until he was reduced to nothing. Seeing the suffering of Red Boy, Guanyin appeared and covered his remains with lotus leaves, which revived him and reconstituted his body. From that moment he became a dharmapala, a fierce protector of the faith.