Figure of bodhisattva Guanyin
Unknown Artist
19th century
Medium
Porcelain painted in overglaze polychrome enamels (Jingdezhen ware)
Dimensions
H. 9 1/2 in. (24.1 cm)
Classification
Ceramics
Culture & Period
China · Qing dynasty (1644–1911)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of Benjamin Altman, 1913
Accession Number
14.40.216
Tags
Art Historical Context
This delicate porcelain figure of Guanyin, the bodhisattva of compassion embodies the spiritual heart of Qing dynasty China (1644–1911). Crafted in the 19th century at Jingdezhen—the renowned imperial porcelain capital—this 9½-inch (24.1 cm) statue Guanyin in a serene, graceful pose, adorned with flowing robes and intricate details. Such devotional objects were cherished in Buddhist households and temples, symbolizing mercy, protection, and benevolence, as Guanyin listens to the world's suffering and offers aid. The artwork's medium—porcelain painted in overglaze polychrome enamels—highlights...