Ancient Chinese Bronze Guanyin in regal ease (Zizai...

Beautiful and expressive Chinese Guanyin statuette (Avalokiteśvara) seated in a royal ease posture, known as Zizai Guanyin, on a rock formation. This relaxed attitude, combined with the lotus held in front of the deity and the aquatic landscape evoked by the base, also brings the composition closer to the iconography of Guanyin of the Water and Moon (Shuiyue Guanyin). The deity presents a serene face with lowered eyes, a urna marked on the forehead, a tall headdress wrapped in a veil, and rich bodhisattva jewelry. The garment falls in soft folds over the body and the rock, while the lotus flower adds a particularly decorative element to the whole. The statuette is made in a copper alloy, probably bronze, by hollow casting, as clearly shown by the interior accessible through the base. The surface bears a beautiful old dark patina contrasted with lighter metallic areas, presumably remnants of an old silvering. This finish strongly contributes to the refined character of the sculpture. The work can be located in China, at the beginning of the Qing dynasty, around the late 17th or early 18th century, in a stylistic horizon compatible with the Kangxi era. It is accompanied by a very beautiful independent wooden plinth, sculpted, richly carved in high relief with waves and aquatic motifs. It harmonizes especially well with the composition and visually extends the rocky landscape on which Guanyin is seated. Remarkable provenance: from the old Georg Weifert collection (1850–1937), an important European industrialist and collector, then through family heirs. This provenance has been published previously for this statuette. Condition: good overall for its age. Stable old patina, natural wear and occasional losses of the light metal coating. No major restoration visible. The plinth also shows signs of use and small wear consistent with its age. Dimensions of the statuette alone: 10.5 × 8.2 × 5.3 cm. Dimensions with plinth: 12.5 × 10.5 × 7 cm. Total weight: 296.4 g. A small-format piece but especially charming for the quality of its modeling, its iconography, the contrast of surfaces, and above all its well-documented ancient provenance. video link: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/833548ygueyyayk5uzm7w/AGdJ_CgCTj-Di28JNyE5jRw?rlkey=a571h9tw6tcljacvshg4yhudp&dl=0

Estimate:$5,060.44

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