reviously
adorning the formal garden of a North Carolina Estate, this elegant Tang style
Kuan Yin was carved in the late Qing Dynasty at the end of the 19th century. The
quality of the limestone used in this rare masterpiece indicates that it was likely
an imperial object carved for the Qing Court. Similar Buddhist art appears in
old photographs of the imperial Summer Palace in Beijing, Hebei.
In
this perfectly proportioned stone figure, Avalokiteshvara, Kuan Yin the Bodhisattva
of Compassion who rescues and protects all sentient beings from suffering. She
is eloquently carved in a flowing series of sashes and scarves ( dhoti ); with
her left leg arranged naturally in a slight bent, her body is portrayed in a graceful
forwarding motion. She holds a lotus bud in one hand, and a vase containing the
elixir of life is held firmly in the other.
For
verification purpose, please note that: a small chip to the figure’s right hand
has been restored. Though it is not visible from the front, there is a chipped
corner at the rear of the base. Nevertheless, among many statue of Kuan Yin were
made in the Chinese Buddhist Art; this is no doubt one of the finest.
Chinese White Limestone Buddha Statue
