A very large Dehua model of standing Guanyin by Xu Youyi (1887-1940), China, marked xu yuyuan zhi, late Qing-Republic period. Photo Nagel

standing on a circular base moulded in relief with swirling waves, her right arm pendent to hold a lotus leaf basket containing a sacred carp, her left holding the hem of the long voluminous robe tied with a tassel and embellished with rows of jewel studded with flowers, her head slightly inclined to sinister, the face with serene expression below the high piled coiffure with two knotted tresses falling over her shoulders, covered overall in an attractive milky glaze of faint bluish tone. Square seal Xu yuyuan zhi in a square below an indecipherable double-gourd mark. Firing cracks, one filled at the base on the reverse side, the basket and one fold with minor restorations, few very small restored chips to robe. H. 83 cm - Estimate 40 000/60 000 €

Property from an old German private collection, bought from Sotheby’s London, 20.6.1978, Lot 130 (From the collection of Lady Taylor, sold 4500.- Pounds)

For similar monumental figures of Guanyin, see, P. J. Donelly, Blanc De Chine, pl. 81, the marker’s mark is noted in the same work, Appendix 4, F4b. Compare also with a similar figure of Guanyin, bearing the same potter’s mark below the double gourd, sold Sotheby’s London, 13th November, 1973, lot 150 

Nagel. "Asian Art". 2012/11/02 http://www.auction.de/