Gilt-Wood Bosatsu Bodhisattva Kannon Benzaiten Edo 17 c

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Gilt-Wood Bosatsu Bodhisattva Kannon Benzaiten Edo 17 c

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Sold Date: 11/25/2007
Channel: Online Auction
Source: eBay
Category: Ethnic, Folk & Native American Art

Up for auction is a gilt-and-lacquer-on-wood depiction of a bosatsu (Skt. bodhisattva) seated upon a lotus-form dais. Early-Edo Period ca. 1600-1650.
Description to follow momentarily. Thank you for your kind patience.
Dimensions:
Height, including dais: 25.0 cm (9.8 in)
Height of figure only: 13.1 cm (5.2 in)
Width of dais: 15.1 cm (5.9 in)
Depth: 11.9 cm (4.7 in)
Shipping:
EMS airmail shipping and insurance for this piece will be US$32 for Europe and US$28 for North America and Oceania.
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Arrayed originally with eight arms, and attired in the garments and adorned with the accoutrements of a bodhisattva, this is possibly a depiction of Fukukenjaku Kannon Bosatsu, one of Kannon's 33 manifestations and one of the Six Kannon, replacing Juntei Kannon, according to the doctrine of the Tendai sect, which doctrine assigns this deity the name of Fukukensaku rather than Fukukenjaku. Various forms of Fukukenjaku Kannon exist, with different numbers of faces and arms. The most typical form has three supernumerary arms on either side and two primary arms forming the gassho adoration mudra. Although a noose and the skin of a deer worn over the shoulder are typical distinguishing attributes, some depictions of Fukukenjaku Kannon have neither a noose nor a deer skin. Fukukenjaku Kannon is considered to be the honjibutsu of Kasuga Daimyoujin, the protective Shinto deity of the Fujiwara clan.
This example, missing all six of the supernumerary arms and much of the central two arms, shows heavy patination and otherwise has the feeling of a pre-Edo piece. The location of the split in the head made to insert the crystal eyes, forward of the ears, almost certainly marks this piece as Edo.
An extremely uncommon, interesting depiction.