A Tibetan Gilt Bronze Figure of the Eleven Headed Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara

Lot Details & Additional Photographs

18th century, cast figure of Avalokitesharvara with eleven heads in three tiers each wearing a tiered crown over hair with blue pigment, surmounted by a dhramapala head with a small Amitabha head as finial, two arms in namaskara mudra, the other six arms extend to the side some holding attributes, the back has an open square that contains prayer papers and sacred objects, raised on a long protrusion presented fitted into a later black base

Overall 20 1/2 x 8 1/2 x 3 1/4 in., Sculpture 14 1/2 x 9 3/8 x 3 1/8 in.

From a Private Collector, Davie County, North Carolina

James R. Lawson PTY LTD, Sydney, April 28, 1999, Lot 317
Josef Neumann Collection

For similar Eleven Headed Avalokiteshvara bronzes from 18th century sold at auction see: Christie's, London, May 14, 2013, Lot 142 and Koller Auktionen, June 4, 2019, Lot 112. For a published example, see the sculpture in the collection of LACMA Los Angeles County Museum of Art (M.86.220.2).

Very good overall condition; some rubbing and loss to surface gilt and pigments; tips of fingers on two lower left hands have breaks with loss; hole to upper portion of left foot; old soldering repairs to back on the right side of opening, and possibly to lower left front on upper thigh; two old nails to ends of sash flanking body on left and right.