A 19th Century Qing Dynasty Guanyin Seated Upon an Elephant

A late 19th century polychrome porcelain figure, depicted seated upon a recumbent elephant.

Guanyin is the bodhisattva of compassion; in buddhist China as well as across other cultures and faiths worldwide. The ‘regarder of sounds’ who listened to the world’s sorrows like a friend, can be androgynous or male, but is most often represented as a female. As in most depictions, the goddess shown here, is barefoot, in long elegant clothing and with a graceful countenance. In order to demonstrate her omniscience as well as her omnipresence, Guanyin is often depicted seated on an elephant, a lion or a fish.

Qing Dynasty, Tongzhi Period (1861 – 1875)

Condition: good, with some losses to glaze; missing one hand.