A GILT-LACQUERED WOOD FIGURE OF SENJU KANNON (THOUSAND-ARMED KANNON), EDO PERIOD

拍品描述

A GILT-LACQUERED WOOD FIGURE OF SENJU KANNON (THOUSAND-ARMED KANNON), EDO PERIOD Japan, 18th-19th century, Edo period (1615-1868) Finely carved standing atop a double-lotus dais raised on a tiered balustrade base, secondary arms radiating around the body, the principal hands held in anjali mudra above a further pair of hands lowered in jo-in at the hips, dressed in loose-fitting robes opening at the chest and cascading in richly carved folds, the round face sensitively modeled with downcast eyes and a calm smile, the hair encircled and surmounted headdress, backed by a tall kohai (aureole) skillfully carved with scrolling clouds. HEIGHT 53 cm (total), 30 cm (the figure) The Kiyomizu-dera is also known as ‘Kannon Reijo’, or holy place, where many visitors come to pay their respects to Kannon. The temple was established in 778, during the late Nara period, by Enchin Shonin, who was a priest from Nara. The principal image of the temple is the statue of the Eleven-headed Thousand-armed Kannon Bodhisattva. The 42 arms and the expressions on the 11 faces represent the great compassion of Kannon, who is believed to save humans from difficulties. Museum comparison: Compare a closely related gilt lacquer figure of Kannon, dated Edo period, in the Museum of Fine Arts of La Rochelle, deposit of the Guimet Museum, 1929.

图片