Guanyin
Figure of Guanyin
1580-1640 (made)
1580-1640 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This small statue of the Buddhist deity Guanyin is a reminder that Chinese women had a duty to bear male children. Made in south-east China, the figure was the personal possession of a woman, who could pray to it for fertility, or give thanks to Guanyin for the birth of a son. Carved from imported African or Asian ivory, the figure's surface is coloured with red lacquer and gilding. Guanyin and the baby she holds both look downwards, in the direction of the sleeve ends of the deity's robe, giving the figure an air of contemplation.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Guanyin (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Ivory, lacquered and gilded |
| Brief description | Figure of Guanyin the Bringer of Sons, lacquered and gilt ivory, possibly Zhangzhou, China, Ming dynasty, 1580-1640 |
| Physical description | Lacquered and gilt ivory figure of Guanyin the Bringer of Sons holding a baby boy on her right shoulder supported by both hands, wearing a long robe which extends to cover her hair piled on top of her head. |
| Dimensions |
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| Style | |
| Gallery label |
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| Credit line | Purchased with Art Fund support, the Vallentin Bequest, Sir Percival David and the Universities China Committee |
| Object history | This small statue of the Buddhist deity Guanyin holding a baby boy is a touching reminder of the Chinese wife's duty to bear male children. This devotional image probably graced a woman's room. The design of the figure follows the curve of the tusk. Of the original gold lacquer little is left, except the dark red ground. In the number of places, noticeably on the skirts in front the ivory now shows through. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This small statue of the Buddhist deity Guanyin is a reminder that Chinese women had a duty to bear male children. Made in south-east China, the figure was the personal possession of a woman, who could pray to it for fertility, or give thanks to Guanyin for the birth of a son. Carved from imported African or Asian ivory, the figure's surface is coloured with red lacquer and gilding. Guanyin and the baby she holds both look downwards, in the direction of the sleeve ends of the deity's robe, giving the figure an air of contemplation. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Other number | 73901 - Negative number |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | A.15-1935 |
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| Record created | December 15, 1999 |
| Record URL |
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