Carved from the solid tip of a tusk, this lyrical Quan Yin seems to float cloudlike and weightless, trailing the creamy folds of her robes, which fall in graceful loops and swirls. In her right hand she holds a joo-i, or royal sceptre. The shape of the joo-i bears a resemblance to the sacred fungus and as such, signifies long life. According to custom, the joo-i was given to a male infant as a toy, and has thus become an emblem of the male sex, identifying the supplicating figure she holds as a male.

The work displays refined artistry from every angle. The back is a particularly fine study in drapery. The entire design is admirably adapted to the material, even to the delicate flourish of tiny folds at the very tip. The face achieves an ideal feminine beauty, with rounded contours and an _expression of sweetness and serenity that is not without a certain sensuality. Touches of blue paint remain on the hair and tassels; the bracelet dangling on the upraised arm is carved from the original matrix. The color is honeyed cream with rich marking and striations.