A large gilt-copper-alloy figure of eleven-headed Avalokiteshvara


18th century The deity finely cast standing with eight arms and eleven heads arranged in five tiers surmounted by one head with a wrathful expression topped by a small head of Amitabha Buddha, the principal hands held in anjali mudra, the others fanned out in various mudras and holding various attributes, the body adorned with elaborate jewellery inlaid with hard stones and billowing ribbons, with a deer skin slung across one shoulder, wood stand. 32cm (12 1/2in) high. (2).
|十八世紀 銅鎏金十一首觀音菩薩立像Venerated in Indian Buddhism as embodiment of the Compassion of the Buddha, Avalokitesvara was incorporated in beliefs concerning the rebirth in the Pure Land of the Amithaba Buddha from at least the 1st-2nd century AD. In this context, the deity effected the spiritual rebirth of the devotees in the blissful land, the ideal atmosphere leading to peaceful nurturing and enlightenment. According to the 'Karandavyuha Sutra' and the 'Flower Garland Sutra', both compiled between the 5th and the 6th centuries AD, the eleven towering heads crowning the head of the deity designated the ten steps towards enlightenment, culminating with the visualisation of the Amithaba Buddha; the fan of arms holding different implements signified the measureless skilful means to save all suffering beings.A related gilt-copper alloy figure of Avalokiteshvara, 18th century, in the Palace Museum, Beijing, is illustrated in Zangchuan Fojiao Zaoxiang-Gugong Bowuyuan Cang Wenwu Zhenpin Quanji, Hong Kong, 2008, p.216, no.206. Another example was sold at Christie's New York, 21 March 2012, lot 811.