Southeast Asia, Indonesia (Java), ca. 18th to 19th century CE. A cast bronze votive figure of an important bodhisattva, Avalokiteshvara, "The Lord Who Gazes Down At The World". This bodhisattva if often portrayed as both male or female (here male), and embodies the compassion of all Buddhas. The figure is seated cross-legged on a delicate lotus throne, with each petal individually delineated; this is atop two tiers of a square-platformed pedestal with openwork sides. The figure has four arms, each holding a different implement: a bottle, a shell, a string of pearl beads, and a floral-shaped object. Atop the figure's head is a headdress topped with small Buddha heads. Size: 3.45" W x 6.45" H (8.8 cm x 16.4 cm)

The reason for this proliferation of heads and arms? One Buddhist story tells of how Avalokitesvara swore never to rest until they had freed all of the sentient beings on earth from the cycle of death and rebirth. However, the multitude of beings requiring saving overwhelms the bodhisattva, and so one of the Buddhas gives them multiple heads with which to hear the cries of the suffering. Reaching out after hearing them, Avalokitesvara's arms shatter, and so the same Buddha grants them thousands of arms.

Provenance: private Hawaii, USA collection; ex-private Hirsch collection, Germany

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#141194

Excellent condition with well-preserved form and great deposits on surface.