北宋 彩繪木雕觀音菩薩像（地黃木胎）|Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara (Guanyin)

Unknown

late 10th–early 11th century · Wood (foxglove) with pigments, gilding, quartz and carnelian; single woodblock construction · Asian Art

It is rare to find a sculpture of Avalokiteshvara seated with his legs folded as if in meditation. He is most often shown standing or seated with one leg bent and the other pendent—a pose known as “royal ease.” One exception is when Avalokiteshvara appears in scenes of the Pure Land of the Buddha Amitabha. It is possible that this sculpture was part of such a composition.

Artist

Unknown

Date

late 10th–early 11th century

Medium

Wood (foxglove) with pigments, gilding, quartz and carnelian; single woodblock construction

Culture

China

Department

Asian Art

Credit line

Fletcher Fund, 1933