Chinese school of the 20th century.

Chinese school of the 20th century.
"Kuan Yin with Buddhist group".
Corallium.
Wooden pedestal.
Presents restorations.
Net weight: 624 grams approx.
Measurements: 33 x 13,5 x 4 cm (figure); 36,5 x 19,5 x 11 cm (base).

Sculptural group carved in coral, with the detailed representation of boddisattvas and protective spirits surrounding the Chinese goddess of compassion, Kuan Yin. The goddess rests her feet on a lotus flower, beneath which we see a large fish, symbol of prosperity and abundance in Chinese culture. In the spiritual context, the fish represents tranquility and liberation from earthly attachments, very much in line with Buddhist teachings. The praying figures could represent devotees and other boddisattvas of wisdom and fortune. Coral carving is extremely complex due to the fragility of the material. This sculpture may have served as a decorative and spiritual talisman for the home. The mastery of detail (such as expressions and folds in the clothing) highlights the craftsman's skill.

Among the most beautiful products that the sea offers to the vanity of humans is undoubtedly the red coral, which in all times has served as a precious adornment with which many peoples adorned and ornamented themselves. In some Eastern cultures, red coral is not only a highly esteemed ornament, but also a sign of dignity or command: the mandarins of China wore it as an attribute of their authority. The Turks were also very fond of coral ornaments, which they wore not only on their person, but also in the decoration and ornamentation of their homes. The Greeks designated coral by the name of korallion, which means "ornament of the sea", this word passed into Latin as corallium, from which the word coral was derived. The color of the limestone shaft offers a great variety of shades ranging from red to pink and some of these colorations have a delicate and soft pink hue, the most sought after by divers. The limestone shaft is so compact and homogeneous that it can be subjected to the most perfect polishing without disintegration and cracking, a property that allows it to be worked and carved in a thousand different ways to achieve an infinite number of decorative or artistic objects.