§ A PAIR OF EARLY GUANYIN WOOD FIGURES, 1026-1185 AD, EXTREMELY WELL-PRESERVED China. The gilt-lacquered wood figures elegantly carved in mirror image, standing in tribhanga on a double lotus base with one hand raised in abhaya mudra while the other hand clasps a billowing scarf. Wearing long skirts and aprons tied with a belt at the waist as well as shawls around their shoulders, their chests adorned with beaded pendent jewelry. Provenance: A notable private collector in Kensington, London, United Kingdom. Condition: Overall superb condition with minor repairs, losses, touchups, and natural age cracks, all as expected and fully commensurate with age. The main lacquer coating is surprisingly well preserved and definitely original. Fine, naturally grown patina. A pair of wood figures with a proven age of nearly 1,000 years in such a fine state of preservation must be considered as exceedingly rare. Scientific Analysis Report: A radiocarbon dating measurement report was completed by RCD Lockinge in Wantage, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom on 16 December 2014, stating a calibrated calendar age of 1026-1185 AD (95 % confidence interval [2σ]). A copy of the report accompanies this lot. Weight: 1,320 g and 1,225 g Dimensions: Height 55 cm (each) Their serene faces with heavy-lidded downcast eyes, subtle smiles, and elongated ears with floral earrings. Their hair swept back and tied to a high chignon behind an elaborate five-leaf crown with strands of hair elegantly falling over the shoulders. Literature comparison: Compare three related gilt-lacquered wood figures of Guanyin and other bodhisattvas, dated to the 15th century, in the collection of the Royal Ontario Museum, object number 923.1.9. Compare also four related figures illustrated on the front cover of Qu Tan Lamasery, Qinghai visitor catalogue and guide, 1986. 5% VAT will be added to the hammer price additional to the buyer's premium - only for buyers within the EU. 1026-1185年間一對觀音木像，保存完好 中國。鎏金漆木雕觀音造像，姿態優雅，站在雙層蓮座上，一手施無畏印，另一隻手扣住飄揚的飄帶。 身著長袍，綫條流暢，肩披飄帶，胸前掛滿珠飾。 來源：英國倫敦肯辛頓知名私人收藏。 品相：整體狀況極佳，有小修、缺損、修補和自然老化裂紋，一切都符合預期，並且與年代相符。 造像上鎏漆塗層令人驚訝地保存完好，絕對是原始的。 自然生長的細膩的包漿。 這樣一對近 1,000 年且保存完好的木雕造像是極為罕見的。 科學檢測報告：隨附一份2014 年 12 月 16 日在英國牛津郡旺塔達出具的碳十四測試報告副本。報告確認木雕造像年代為公元 1026-1185 年（95% 置信區間 [2σ]）。 重量：分別爲1,320克與1,225克 尺寸：各高55 厘米