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Guanyin, 19th Century Chinese Carved Boxwood with Bone Accents

About the Item

This 13" tall statue depicts Guanyin and was carved in China from boxwood and bone in the 19th century; most likely between 1850-1890. Guanyin is the goddess of mercy in Chinese Buddhism. She represents boundless love and compassion. She watches over sailors. And guides people toward peace. Here, she holds a candle to illuminate the path. Her heavy, draped robes billow in the wind. This museum-quality masterpiece was created in the 19th century in Japan by a master carver. The drape of her robe; you can feel the weight. There is so much emotion and power infused into the statue. The statue was carved from boxwood; a hardwood that has a very fine grain and holds the shape of intricate carvings exceptionally well. Her hands, candlestick and candle, and face were carved from bone. Note the flickering candle flame ad the wax that has dripped down the side of the candle. Look at the humanity in her face; it's an astonishing feat of craftsmanship. The statue has traveled through time seemingly unscathed. I see no damage and no signs of repair anywhere. The base is a later replacement to whatever had been the original base. Figures carved from wood in antiquity are plentiful; excellent carvings are rare. But statue is beyond mere excellent and exists within the sublime. Provenance: I acquired this statue from a dealer in Connecticut who has for many years (decades) had one of America's "Iconic Families" as a client. She would personally drive from her lavish location to his distant, humble shop in an "up-and-coming" former mill town along a river where she would deliver to him objects she had decided to release. The seller is a man with no formal education in art or art history, but he possessed (and still does) an incredible eye for the rare, the magnificent. He's a working-class gentleman with the taste of a king. I don't know how he and this matriarch crossed paths, but she most certainly recognized -and was charmed- by this quality of his. Why else would she leave with him -and his tiny shop, far, far, far from the J.P. Morgan, Martha Stewart Connecticut- treasures such as this? A work of excruciating beauty and power that I am fortunate enough to offer; making you are likewise fortunate enough to acquire.
  • Weight:
    453 g
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 13 in (330.2 mm)Width: 4 in (101.6 mm)Depth: 3 in (76.2 mm)
  • Style:
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    circa 1850-1890
  • Condition:
    Replacements made: The wood base upon which the statue rests is a contemporary replacement. I am unable to date the base. It is, however, a simple and well-crafted form with a slight chamfered edge. Possibly mid-century.
  • Seller Location:
    Southbury, CT
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU1589123754382

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