A gilt bronze figure of Avalokitesvara Tibeto-Chinese, 18th century

the finely cast and gilded figure depicting the bodhisattva of compassion with eleven heads and eight arms, standing on a circular lotus pedestal

Frank and Dorothy Neustatter, California, acquired 1972.

In very good condition. Minor accretion and rubbing of gilding. Consecration object wrapped in yellow silk inside the figure and visible at the feet. Consecration plate on the lotus base engraved with visvavajra and possibly a replacement.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Cf. an eighteenth century Qing dynasty eleven-headed Avalokiteshvara, see Ulrich von Schroeder, Indo-Tibetan Bronzes, Hong Kong, 1981, p. 553, pl. 158C. The eleven-headed form of the popular bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara has long been regarded as the patron deity of Tibet, and has been revered in China from the late Ming dynasty through the Qing.