A GILT BRONZE FIGURE OF THE ELEVEN-HEADED AVALOKITESHVARA, TANG DYNASTY Opinion: The elegantly cast figure of Avalokiteshvara is extremely rare in this eleven-headed manifestation. The slim features and elegantly curved posture are representative of the artistic style of the high Tang era.

China, 618-907. Finely cast, standing elegantly in tribhanga atop a lotus pedestal, holding a water vessel in the lowered left hand. The deity's eyes half-closed, evoking a sense of peace, the slim features and posture elegantly curved, the body adorned in a long dhoti and flamboyant scarves, the chest with elaborate jewelry. The neatly incised hair falling in strands over the shoulders and surmounted by ten small heads reminiscent of the Buddha Amitabha. The back of the main head with a pierced tab.

Provenance: United Kingdom trade. By repute from a private estate in Essex, United Kingdom.
Condition: Very good condition, commensurate with age. Extensive wear, some weathering and deterioration, light scratches, few minuscule nicks and dents, small losses. Areas of fine, natural malachite-green patina with expected encrustations.

Weight: 94.8 g (incl. stand)
Dimensions: Height 13.2 cm (incl. stand) and 10.9 cm (excl. stand)

Mounted on an associated wood stand. (2)

Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Sotheby's Hong Kong, 12 October 2021, lot 3512
Estimate: HKD 2,000,000 or approx. EUR 251,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A gilt-bronze figure of Avalokiteshvara, Tang dynasty
Expert remark: Compare the closely related pose, depiction, expression, and manner of casting. Note that this figure has six arms and is of larger size (21.6 cm).

Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Sotheby's Hong Kong, 12 October 2021, lot 3518
Price: HKD 119,700 or approx. EUR 15,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A gilt-bronze figure of Avalokiteshvara, Tang dynasty
Expert remark: Compare the closely related pose, expression, and manner of casting. Note the smaller size (9.5 cm) and lack of the additional heads.


唐代銅鎏金十一首觀音
中國，618-907年。觀音呈三曲式優雅地立於蓮台上，左手持淨瓶。觀音雙眼微閉，給人以平和之感；身姿修長，胸飾瓔珞，腕、臂、足飾寶釧，肩披帛帶，自臂纏繞，垂至裙下，作飛翹狀。頭頂三層面，第一層佛面背面帶有穿孔標籤。

專家注釋：十一首觀音菩薩造型優美，極為罕見。 五官秀美，姿態優雅，盛唐時期藝術風格的代表。

來源：英國古玩交易，據説來自英國 埃塞克斯郡私人舊藏。
品相：狀況非常好，與年齡相符。大面積磨損，一些風化和老化，輕微的劃痕、刻痕和凹痕，小缺損。細膩的天然綠色銅鏽，帶有預期的結殼。

重量：總94.8 克
尺寸：總高13.2 厘米，不含底座10.9 厘米

木質底座。

拍賣結果比較：
形制：非常相近
拍賣：香港蘇富比，2021年10月12日，lot 3512
估價：HKD 2,000,000（相當於今日EUR 251,500）
描述：唐代鎏金銅十一面觀世音菩薩立像
專家評論：比較非常相近的姿勢、形制、表情和這造風格。請注意此像有六臂和尺寸較大 (21.6 厘米)。

拍賣結果比較：
形制：非常相近
拍賣：香港蘇富比，2021年10月12日，lot 3518
價格：HKD 119,700（相當於今日EUR 15,000）
描述：唐代鎏金銅觀世音菩薩立像
專家評論：比較非常相近的姿勢、表情和這造風格。請注意尺寸較小(9.5 厘米) ，以及只有一顆頭。