Carving: Guanyin (Kannon, Kuanyin, Avalokiteshvara)

"A Chinese boxwood carving of Guanyin (Kuan Yin), 17th/18th centiry, Qing (Ch'ing) Dynasty, 13 1/2" H., carved within the natural contour of the wood, leaning slightly, finely carved face and robes, holding a well-defined basket (Restoration—smoothed 3 miniscule small nicks). Boxwood (Buxus michrophylia) is a very close-grained dense yellowish brown hardwood termed huangyang in Chinese.

Guanyin is the Chinese name for the Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara. One of the most famous Buddhist Bodhisattvas is Guanyin (Kuan Yin). The name translates "lord who looks on." He is often depicted as the deity of Mercy and compassion. In Indian art he is depicted as an Indian prince and spiritual son of Amitabha, with a crown, jewels and skirt, and sometimes holds an attribute (fly whisk or bottle filled with heavenly nectar). This deity is also depicted with a lotus, symbol of purity, and when in this form is called Padmapani. In Tantric form, he may have eleven heads, and sometimes as many as one thousand arms. It is usually represented, (since the Sung Dynasty) in China, as feminine in form and is thought of as a "goddess." This deity is represented in painting and sculpture." - Bernie McManus, Appraiser, Woodbury House, Connecticut, 10/23/1999