宋十二 / 十三世紀 木雕加彩觀音菩薩半身像

the imposing deity rising fom the hips carved from a large hollowed-out tree trunk, dressed in a flowing robe tied with a knotted sash around the chest, and a red sash draped over the shoulders, wearing a pectoral on the chest, the serene face with downcast eyes and full lips, framed by a coral-coloured jasper bead set in the urna and long pendulous ear lobes, the hair swept back in a chignon secured by a lacquered gold diadem and traces of the Amitabha Buddha set in the centre, with traces of red, blue, black and green pigment, the wood weathered around the base and back of the figure

紐約蘇富比1989年12月6日，編號72

The wood along the bottom, back side and top of the head has has a bout with termites and therefore is a lot more weathered. The condition is now stable. The backside has a rectangular hole for slotting to a mandorla and a second cavity below the shoulders that is covered with a piece of wood (seemingly contemporary with the Guanyin). The hands are missing. The arms are doweled to the body. The jewel may be later added. There are expected loose pieces and old splits.
"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."

此觀音菩薩雕像工藝超卓，有別於釋迦牟尼，瓔珞華帶滿飾一身，展現菩薩莊嚴神聖。

從深雕衣褶、瑰麗佩飾、尚存華彩，可設想昔時置滿繪壁畫之寺中壇前，立於一眾描金加彩佛衹羅漢之間，是何其宏偉莊觀。

金元兩朝，上等雕塑皆為木雕，刷塗底料再施色添彩，嵌石貼金，以顯尊貴。如此碩大造像，則須採拼雕，以竹或木質榫卯固定。十一至十三世紀佛寺，至今仍存不少，見證故時建築、繪畫、雕塑的輝煌結合。例可見山西趙城鎮廣勝寺上寺之坐獅文殊菩薩，其姿態華衣與此有相近之處，製於約1150年，圖見於 Alexander Soper，《The Art and Architecture of China》，倫敦，1968年，圖版77。

也可參考尺寸略小之觀音坐像，如 Avery Brundage 藏例，圖載於 Rene-Yvon d'Argence 編，《Chinese, Korean and Japanese Sculpture in the Avery Brundage Collection》，三藩市，1974年，圖版145，或紐約賽克勒故藏例，後售於紐約佳士得1994年12月1日，編號169。相類觀音菩薩像，有見敞開前胸、不同坐或立姿者，如紐約大都會藝術博物館藏品，刊於 Alan Priest，《Chinese Sculpture in the Metropolitan Museum of Art》，紐約，1944，圖版CXI，或克里夫蘭藝術博物館，圖見於《海外遺珍：佛像（二）》，台北，1990年，圖版144。同書另錄一尊立像例，售於紐約蘇富比1981年11月6日，編號50，現也存於克里夫蘭藝術博物館，圖版146。還可比對辛辛那提藝術博物館藏坐像，見於 Ellen B. Avril，《Chinese Art in the Cincinnati Art Museum》，辛辛那提，1997年，圖版23。