Lot 120. A gilt-bronze figure of Guanyin, Ming dynasty, 16th century; 35cm., 13 3/4 in. Estimate £25,000 — 35,000. Lot sold 32,500 GBP. Photo Sotheby's

seated in dhyanasana, wearing a floral etched long flowing robe open at the chest to reveal a wan symbol, the face with gentle smile and framed by a high five-pointed crown, long flowing ribbons and large earrings, all seated on a separately-cast lotus pedestal base. Quantité: 3.

Note: This figure of the bodhisattva Avalokitesvara portrays the deity in a sinicized form, with feminine features and seated on a luxurious lotus throne. This form began to emerge during the mid to late Ming dynasty and is still the form of Avalokitesvara popular in East Asia today, where the deity is known as Guanyin, the Goddess of Mercy. Compare a similarly modelled figure of Guanyin and two attendants, sold in our New York rooms, 23rd September 1995, lot 335A; another of larger size sold at Christie’s New York, 18th September 2009, lot 166; and a third portraying a bejewelled Guanyin, from the collection of Mr and Mrs Peter Tcherepnine, sold at Christie’s New York, 30th November 1984, lot 618.

Sotheby's. Important Chinese Art, Londres, 13 mai 2015, 11:00 AM