A Rare and Large Silver-Inlaid Bronze Figure of Guanyin from 16th/17th Century was the top lot of Bonhams sale of Fine Chinese Art Introducing Beauty and Beyond: Women in Chinese Art. The statue carries an estimate of HK$3,500,000-4,500,000 and it achieved HK$4,377,500, eclipsing the high estimate.
This feminine appearance of Guanyin – otherwise known as the Chinese mother goddess – appeared to emerge in the early Tang Dynasty, even though traditionally it could appear in any gender to expound Buddhist teaching. This rare bronze figure is outstanding for its extraordinary attention to detail and sculptural qualities. Only a few bronze Guanyin figures of comparable size with similar hand gestures dated to the Ming dynasty seem to be recorded.
Woman accessories of the sale also saw great bidding interest, with many lots achieving multiples of their estimate:
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