Avalokiteshvara; Tibet, Quing Dynasty, 19th century. Cast... Lot 56

Avalokiteshvara; Tibet, Quing Dynasty, 19th century. Cast and patinated bronze. Measurements: 65 x 32 x 15 cm. Tibetan sculpture made in cast and patinated bronze. The work stands out for its ornamental pattern and for the presence of eleven heads and forty-two arms that make up a dynamic and expressive image, whose rhythm is based on the repetition and profusion of the elements that make up the body of the sculpture. The piece shows high quality craftsmanship, denoting great attention to detail, which can be seen in numerous details, such as the lions on the base, or the chains that are arranged on the skirt. The hands and faces are the most remarkable elements of the sculpture, as the main limbs each hold a different attribute, and the faces have different gestures and in some cases different features. Avalokiteshvara is the bodhisattva of compassion. He is one of the most widely revered bodhisattvas in mainstream Mahayana Buddhism, as well as unofficially in Theravada. He is known in Tibet as Chenrezig, in China as Chenrezig and in Japan as Kannon. In Tibetan Buddhism, the Dalai Lama is considered to be an incarnation of Avalokiteshvara. A well-known Buddhist legend narrates that Avalokiteshvara vowed never to rest until he had liberated all sentient beings from samsara. Despite his strenuous effort, he realised that there were still many unfortunate beings to be saved. After struggling to understand the needs of all, his head was divided into eleven parts. Amitabha Buddha, observing his plight, gave him eleven heads to hear the cries of the suffering. Hearing these cries and understanding them, Avalokiteshvara tried to reach out to all those in need of help, but found his arms shattered. Once again, Amit?bha came to his aid and endowed him with a thousand arms so that he could help the suffering multitudes. Many Himalayan versions of this story include eight arms with which Avalokitevara skillfully holds the dharma, each of which possesses its own particular implement, while the more specific Chinese versions give different accounts of their number.