Probably Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara (Guanyin)

Object Details

• Description

  The Bodhisattva stands with its body arched in a slight curve. The pointed headdress that appears in the high chignon is not specific enough to identify the particular Bodhisattva being represented. The torso is clothed in scarves and necklaces; a pleated dhoti falls from the waist. The Bodhisattva's right hand holds one end of a scarf against the dhoti; the left arm is raised at the elbow and the fingers of the hand are gracefully curved. There are traces of paint and pigment traces on the surface of the stone. The sculpture has been broken and subsequently repaired.

• Provenance

  Probably originally located in the southern part of Xishan, Longmen caves, Luoyang, Henan province [1]

  To 1970

  Eugene Meyer (1875-1959) and Agnes E. Meyer (1887-1970), Washington, DC, and Mt. Kisco, NY [2]

  From 1970 to 1974

  Eugene and Agnes E. Meyer Foundation, New York

  From 1974

  Freer Gallery of Art, bequeathed by Agnes E. Meyer [3]

  Notes:

  [1] Chang Qing, "Search and Research: The Provenance of Longmen Images in the Freer Collection," Orientations 34, 5 (May 2003), pp. 18, 19, fig. 4.

  [2] The object was part of the Estate of Agnes E. Meyer.

  [3] The object was transferred to the Freer Gallery on January 9, 1973. In 1974 it was confirmed that the transfer of this object to the Freer Gallery from the Eugene and Agnes E. Meyer Foundation had been approved by the foundation’s Board of Directors on December 14, 1972 and the object was accessioned to the collection.

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Previous custodian or owner

  Eugene and Agnes E. Meyer ((1875-1959) and (1887-1970))

• Origin

  Probably Longmen Grottos, Luoyang, Henan province, China

• Credit Line

  Gift of Eugene and Agnes E. Meyer

• Type

  Sculpture

• Restrictions and Rights

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  900s, 600s

• Name

  Meyer, Eugene and Agnes E.

• Place

  Longmen Grottos, Luoyang, China, Henan province

• Topic

  Art, Chinese Art, Tang dynasty (618 - 907), Avalokite?svara (Buddhist deity), Stone, Bodhisattva, Guanyin

• Culture

  Buddhists, Chinese

• Object Type

  Sculpture