Buff pottery figure of Avalokitesvara

Manager ID

22

Title

Buff pottery figure of Avalokitesvara Northern Qi dynasty, dated by inscription to 563 AD

Short title

Buff pottery figure of Avalokitesvara

Record number

BATEA : 22

Simple name

figure

Classified name

ceramic; pottery; figure; Northern Qi; Avalokitesvara; inscription; Buddhist; China; religion; dated; 6th century;

Description

Description part summary

A buff pottery standing figure of Avalokitesvara with elaborate crown and pointed mandorla festooned with sausage-like necklace pendants, the right arm bent at the elbow, its hand raised and the other arm hanging down. The clothes, with long pendant draperies, cover the thin match-stick like legs, and the feet and ankles are of almost upright triangular shape, both features typical of the Buddhist bronzes and marble statues of the period from Northern Qi to early Sui. The figure ends in a ceramic plug which fits into a circular inverted lotus petal stand on a square plinth. The reverse of the figure has a dated dedicatory inscription in black ink dating the figure to the 5th day of the 10th month of 563 AD.

Description material

pottery

Description condition

good but with some missing section from the stand

Description Colour

Aspect	Colour

body	buff
decoration

Description length

6.5cm

Description height

22.5cm

Description diameter

Description width

6.5cm

Description depth

Description inscription

character inscription in black ink on back of figure

Description notes

Gallery location

Labels

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