A BUDDHIST VOTIVE PAINTING DEPICTING AVALOKITESHVARA, POSSIBLY IMPERIAL China, 17^th-18^th century. Ink and watercolors on silk. Superbly painted, seated in dhyanasana atop a lotus pedestal borne on a thick stem issuing buds and blossoms, flanked by two guardian attendants standing on swirling clouds with hands clasped in front. His many hands hold various attributes, running the full gamut of Buddhist iconography, and issuing from his ten heads (in place of the eleventh) is an image of Buddha Amitabha seated on a lotus throne supported on clouds, flanked by two celestial figures.

Provenance: UK market, by repute from an old English estate.
Condition: Very good condition with minor wear, soiling, creasing, few minuscule tears and losses. Laid down on paper.

Dimensions: 153 x 75.2 cm

The present image is a symbolic representation placed on a wall during Buddhist rituals. From the Buddhist perspective, paintings and calligraphy belong to Silpakarma-vidya, one of the five types of knowledge and wisdom. Over time monks and laymen painted and practiced calligraphy and Buddhist-themed works became more sophisticated during the Song and Yuan dynasties. By the middle of the Ming Dynasty, votive paintings, such as the present example, were used within private chapels and side pavilions of major temple monasteries.

The Qing dynasty witnessed a revitalization of the cultural contacts between Tibet and imperial China, and the Manchu ruling class officially patronized Tibetan-style Buddhism in the capital of Beijing. This period also witnessed an explosion in the production of Buddhist art, particularly during the reign of the Qianlong Emperor (r. 1735-1796).

Literature comparison: Compare two related Imperial Buddhist votive paintings, showing a similar treatment of the clouds, one at Christie’s Hong Kong, 26 April 2004, lot 999, and the other at Christie’s Hong Kong, 26 May 2021, lot 858.

Auction result comparison: Compare a silk painting of Cundi, dated to the 17^th century, at Christie’s Hong Kong in Fine Chinese Classical Paintings and Calligraphy on 26 May 2021, lot 860, sold for HKD 275,000. Compare a silk painting depicting the Water-Moon Guanyin at Christie’s Hong Kong in Fine Classical Chinese Paintings and Calligraphy on 28 November 2005, lot 1056, sold for HKD 384,000.

或爲御製《千手寳相觀音圖》
中國，十七至十八世紀。立軸，絹本水墨設色。圖繪千手寶相觀音坐於蓮座上，中間雙手合十，其他各手分別持小斧、蓮花、寶劍、弓箭等各種法寶；頭上祥雲朵朵飄蕩，雲中托出小佛一尊。左右兩側分別站著一位天神。

來源：英國古玩市場，據説來自英國私人老收藏。
品相：狀況極好，有輕微磨損、汙漬、摺痕，少量撕裂和缺損。紙本裝裱。

尺寸：153 x 75.2厘米

拍賣結果比較：比較一件十七世紀絹本設色的准提菩薩，見香港佳士得Fine Chinese Classical Paintings and Calligraphy，2021年5月26日 lot 860, 售價HKD 275,000。比較一件絹本設色水月觀音，見香港佳士得Fine Classical Chinese Paintings and Calligraphy，2005年11月 28日lot 1056, 售價HKD 384,000。