A Rare Rhinoceros Horn Figure of Guanyin Late Ming / Early Qing Dynasty, 17th Century

well carved as a seated Guanyin with loose robes elegantly draped over her corpulent body revealing her chest with a headdress and her long locks of hair sitting neatly atop her head, beneath her revealing a network of tessellated wutong leaves, her head tilting slightly downwards with her eyes closed contemplatively, holding tasselled Buddhist prayer beads with her left hand below her bangle-adorned wrist, her right elbow resting on an armrest while holding a ruyi against her torso with her hand, the horn of a deep chestnut tone lightening to an amber colour near the tip, wood stand

The base of the Guanyin has possibly been ground down. The top section of her chignon, carved from a separate piece of horn, appears to be original. There are some typical age cracks (most of them have been stabilised), including a couple fine crackles to her forehead and one to the upper joint of the mythical beast on her right. The bottom also has a few cracks, such as one of approx. 3.5 cm which has been slightly refilled located next to the tassel, and one of approx. 2 cm to the back (with restoration of approx. 2 cm). There are occasional worm holes and minor chips especially to the bottom section. The horn is of a warm reddish brown tone with an attractive patina.
"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. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The present rhinoceros horn carving of Guanyin is a fine and rare example of late-Ming figural carvings in this medium. The broad proportions of Guanyin's body and the wide leafy base upon which she sits, her robes spreading over it, suggest that it was made from a whole horn. The style of using the wide base of the horn for carving figures continued into the Kangxi period.

A closely related example was sold at Christie’s London, 10th April 1973, lot 282, and is possibly the one illustrated in Zhongguo Meishu Quanji [Complete series on Chinese art], vol. 11, Beijing, 1987, pl. 137. Other examples of superbly carved rhinoceros horn figures of seated Guanyin include two published in Thomas Fok, Connoisseurship of Rhinoceros Horn Carving in China, Hong Kong, 1999, pls. 75 and 77, from the collections of the Harvard University Art Museum and the Shanghai Museum respectively; and another sold in our New York rooms, 6th December 1989, lot 58. See also a carving of a seated Guanyin pouring balm from her vase while a small boy tries to touch the liquid, in the collection of the Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass., published in Jan Chapman, The Art of Rhinoceros Horn Carving in China, London, 1999, pl. 334 (right).