A Sino-Tibetan antique bronze of Avalokiteshvara, the Bodhisattvas of compassion. He is seated on a Viswapadmasana, a double lotus petal throne. 19th c. Perhaps earlier. 

Avalokiteshvara, together with Manjushri and Vajrapani, are known as The Three Great Bodhisattvas, all renowned to Buddhist practitioners across the Himalayas by the end of the 8th c. Together they stand out as important figures both for both ordinary people and monastic elites.

Although these immortal bodhisattvas have nearly attained nirvana, they hold off out of compassion to help others break the cycle of rebirth. 

The name Avalokiteshvara means Lord who looks down with compassion. Here he is depicted sitting on a lotus throne arrayed in jewels like a prince, and is the earthly manifestation of the self-born eternal Buddha Amitabha. 

He is holding a noose in his upper right hand, a lotus in his upper left. His lower hands are joined in the Namakar mudra, the gesture of prayer.

Known in Chinese as Guanyin, Avalokiteshvara became the most important deity in Buddhism around the sixth century C.E. Represented in different manifestations throughout Asia, Avalokiteshvara is usually identified by a small seated Buddha, as here. 

This antique Tibetan Bodhisattva displays a wonderful patination, the result of decades, if not centuries, of ritual handling. It certainly dates back to the 19th c, possibly earlier, and comes to us from an important British, single owner collection. It was cast in bronze in two parts by the lost-wax method before being joined. 

Please look carefully at the photographs as they form part of the description. 

Height: 18 cms. Width: 11.75 cms. Depth: 9.5 cms. Weight: 1.4 Kgs. 

Price: £125.00. ANTIQUE HOME SHRINE, THE ART OF TIBET AND RELATED TEMPLE PARAPHERNALIA FOR DISPLAY ONLY, AND NOT INCLUDED. 

Postage: £16.95.  UK mainland dispatch by ParcelForce 48 tracked courier service. For overseas dispatch refer to details of eBay's GSP, Global Shipping Programme, by clicking on SEE DETAILS in the postage section under the BUY IT NOW button.

SKU number: 12948.

To see the wide range of Indian vintage & antique artefacts currently in stock, click on See other items or Visit shop on the home page of the listing. We are constantly upgrading our eBay shop with new stock. Perhaps add us to your favourites, so the new stock pops up in your eBay feed when you login?