Song Dynasty (960–1279) Bronze Guanyin / Avalokiteśvara seated in bronze - 14.4 cm

11
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€ 2
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Peter Reynaers
Expert
Selected by Peter Reynaers

Has nearly 30 years’ experience and moderated multiple online art research groups.

Estimate  € 1,500 - € 1,800
ES
€2
SG
€1

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Bronze Guanyin (Avalokiteśvara) seated on a lotus base, dating to the Song dynasty (late 12th–early 13th century), with rich adornment, in good condition, 14.4 cm high, 6 cm wide, 3.9 cm deep, 246 g, acquired in 2024 from France and formerly in a French private collection, with an accompanying study certificate.

AI-assisted summary

Description from the seller

Elegant Chinese bronze alloy Buddhist statuette, representing Guanyin (Avalokiteśvara), bodhisattva of compassion, seated in meditation on a lotus base. The deity is richly adorned with jewelry and crowned with a high openwork crown. She holds a small vessel in the lowered hand and a floral attribute in the raised hand, elements characteristic of Guanyin iconography.

The sculpture is distinguished by its frontal and hieratic composition, the long sashes falling on both sides of the body, and its rich adornment. The casting is hollow, following a traditional technique. Stylistic and comparative study allows us to place the work under the Song dynasty (960–1279), probably in the XIIth–XIIIth centuries.

The surface shows an old dark brown to black patina, with brown and reddish tints as well as traces of ancient surface layers. Overall in good condition considering its age: wear, casting irregularities, small losses and perforations, slight deformations and traces of erosion, all visible in the photographs.

Provenance: former French private collection. Acquired by the current owner in 2024.

Dimensions: 14.4 × 6 × 3.9 cm
Weight: 246 g

The statuette is accompanied by a certificate of detailed study, including iconographic, technical, stylistic analysis and documentary comparisons.

video link: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/58p2hb5eacnkcbr1up6km/AHyQlJc1DouXFlkEh_LdMP4?rlkey=nr0ywhl9bwymirtt3q3ljnchg&dl=0

Seller's Story

MIMOSA SA — EXPERTISE, RESEARCH AND TRANSMISSION For more than 26 years, I have been working as an art dealer specializing in ancient Asian arts. My work is not simply to offer objects: it is to observe them, to understand them, to study them and to document them before passing them to a new collector. Each work presented by Mimosa SA undergoes thorough examination. Depending on its nature, this study may concern the iconography, the style, the proportions, the material, the execution techniques, surface traces, patina, the condition, restorations, provenance as well as relevant bibliographic, museum or archaeological comparisons. When justified, additional scientific analyses may also be undertaken. Our approach rests on the experience of sight, gained from direct contact with the works for over two decades, but also on methodical and constantly renewed research. We always favor a cautious, coherent and argued attribution rather than a seductive but insufficiently substantiated assertion. Transparency is at the heart of our approach. The wear, gaps, accidents, ancient restorations or more recent interventions are reported as precisely as possible. When an attribution carries uncertainty or remains a working hypothesis, it is clearly presented as such. Present on Catawiki since 2016, we have chosen to maintain a regular selection of works there in order to meet international collectors who value authenticity, knowledge and quality of documentation. Each acquisition is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity issued under our professional responsibility. For the most important works, this certificate takes the form of a genuine study dossier gathering the main technical, stylistic, iconographic, historical and bibliographic observations made during our research. The same standard applies to shipping. Over the years, we have developed a packaging method adapted to old, fragile, heavy or complex-shaped objects. Each work is protected, immobilized and carefully packaged, according to its material and its particularities. The shipping costs correspond to the real needs for protection, handling, insurance and secure transport. Shipping is never regarded as a source of commercial profit. Acquiring a work from Mimosa SA is to receive a selected, studied, described, documented and prepared object with the same care that we would wish for a work destined for our own collection.
Translated by Google Translate

Elegant Chinese bronze alloy Buddhist statuette, representing Guanyin (Avalokiteśvara), bodhisattva of compassion, seated in meditation on a lotus base. The deity is richly adorned with jewelry and crowned with a high openwork crown. She holds a small vessel in the lowered hand and a floral attribute in the raised hand, elements characteristic of Guanyin iconography.

The sculpture is distinguished by its frontal and hieratic composition, the long sashes falling on both sides of the body, and its rich adornment. The casting is hollow, following a traditional technique. Stylistic and comparative study allows us to place the work under the Song dynasty (960–1279), probably in the XIIth–XIIIth centuries.

The surface shows an old dark brown to black patina, with brown and reddish tints as well as traces of ancient surface layers. Overall in good condition considering its age: wear, casting irregularities, small losses and perforations, slight deformations and traces of erosion, all visible in the photographs.

Provenance: former French private collection. Acquired by the current owner in 2024.

Dimensions: 14.4 × 6 × 3.9 cm
Weight: 246 g

The statuette is accompanied by a certificate of detailed study, including iconographic, technical, stylistic analysis and documentary comparisons.

video link: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/58p2hb5eacnkcbr1up6km/AHyQlJc1DouXFlkEh_LdMP4?rlkey=nr0ywhl9bwymirtt3q3ljnchg&dl=0

Seller's Story

MIMOSA SA — EXPERTISE, RESEARCH AND TRANSMISSION For more than 26 years, I have been working as an art dealer specializing in ancient Asian arts. My work is not simply to offer objects: it is to observe them, to understand them, to study them and to document them before passing them to a new collector. Each work presented by Mimosa SA undergoes thorough examination. Depending on its nature, this study may concern the iconography, the style, the proportions, the material, the execution techniques, surface traces, patina, the condition, restorations, provenance as well as relevant bibliographic, museum or archaeological comparisons. When justified, additional scientific analyses may also be undertaken. Our approach rests on the experience of sight, gained from direct contact with the works for over two decades, but also on methodical and constantly renewed research. We always favor a cautious, coherent and argued attribution rather than a seductive but insufficiently substantiated assertion. Transparency is at the heart of our approach. The wear, gaps, accidents, ancient restorations or more recent interventions are reported as precisely as possible. When an attribution carries uncertainty or remains a working hypothesis, it is clearly presented as such. Present on Catawiki since 2016, we have chosen to maintain a regular selection of works there in order to meet international collectors who value authenticity, knowledge and quality of documentation. Each acquisition is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity issued under our professional responsibility. For the most important works, this certificate takes the form of a genuine study dossier gathering the main technical, stylistic, iconographic, historical and bibliographic observations made during our research. The same standard applies to shipping. Over the years, we have developed a packaging method adapted to old, fragile, heavy or complex-shaped objects. Each work is protected, immobilized and carefully packaged, according to its material and its particularities. The shipping costs correspond to the real needs for protection, handling, insurance and secure transport. Shipping is never regarded as a source of commercial profit. Acquiring a work from Mimosa SA is to receive a selected, studied, described, documented and prepared object with the same care that we would wish for a work destined for our own collection.
Translated by Google Translate

Details

Culture
Song Dynasty (960–1279)
Century/timeframe
Fin du XIIe – début du XIIIe siècle
Name of object
Guanyin / Avalokiteśvara seated in bronze
Acquired from
Auction house
Year acquired
2024
Material
Bronze
Country acquired from
France
Condition
Good
Previous owner acquired from
Private collection
Height
14.4 cm
Previous owner - year acquired
1980
Width
6 cm
Previous owner - country acquired from
France
Depth
3.9 cm
I verify that I have obtained this object legally and that I am allowed to sell it
Yes
Authenticity
Original/official
BelgiumVerified
505
Objects sold
pro

Disclaimer

The seller was informed by Catawiki about documentation requirements and guarantees the following: - the object was legally obtained, - the seller has the right to sell and/or export the object, as relevant, - the seller will provide the necessary provenance information and arrange required documentation and permits/licenses, as applicable and as per local laws, - the seller will notify the buyer of any delays in obtaining permits/licenses. By bidding, you acknowledge that import documentation may be required depending on your country of residence and that obtaining permits/licenses may cause delays in the delivery of your object.

The seller was informed by Catawiki about documentation requirements and guarantees the following: - the object was legally obtained, - the seller has the right to sell and/or export the object, as relevant, - the seller will provide the necessary provenance information and arrange required documentation and permits/licenses, as applicable and as per local laws, - the seller will notify the buyer of any delays in obtaining permits/licenses. By bidding, you acknowledge that import documentation may be required depending on your country of residence and that obtaining permits/licenses may cause delays in the delivery of your object.

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