Chinese Antique | Metal Seated Figure in the Water-Moon Guanyin Style
This Chinese antique metal seated Guanyin clearly draws on the artistic vocabulary of the Water-Moon Guanyin / Guanyin at Ease. The figure wears an ornate jeweled crown, a celestial scarf and beaded necklaces. Rather than sitting formally on a lotus throne, the figure is shown in a relaxed pose with one leg raised and the other hanging naturally, the posture of ease often seen in Water-Moon Guanyin images. The face is lowered, the expression composed, the features soft and restrained, creating a contrast of stillness against the movement of the ornate crown and layered drapery. The right arm hangs naturally and the body turns slightly to one side, making the piece not only a religious image but also a work of considerable sculptural artistry.