Guan Yin. China, 19th century

Guan Yin. China, 19th century.
Bronze and cloisonné enamel.
Signed on the back (belongs to the Imperial Palace School).
Exhibits wear consistent with age and use.
Measurements: 68 cm. height.
The Bodhisattva of Mercy appears here sumptuously dressed, resting her bare feet on a lotus flower. Made in bronze, the garments and the crown appear enameled with the cloisonné technique, displaying rich ranges of reds and blues that contrast with the bronze skin. The right hand adopts a mudra and in the left hand she holds a flask in which she keeps the nectar of fertility. The serene face highlights the long earlobes, which symbolize wisdom and nobility.
Guanyin is venerated by the Buddhists of East Asia. As a result of syncretism, it is commonly accepted that her figure is the female counterpart of Avalokitesvara, the Hindu bodhisattva of compassion. The first Buddhist monk who referred to Guanyin in feminine form was Kumarajiva, when translating the Lotus Sutra into Chinese in 406 AD. With the introduction of Vajrayana Buddhism in China during the Tang dynasty, in the VIII century, the representation of Avalokitesvara as a beautiful female figure grew in popularity.