+GUANYIN, polychrome wood, China / Vietnam, 18th / 19th century

The wooden sculpture represents Guanyin (Sankrit: Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara). Guanyin is a Bodhisattva personifying compassion, his name means "observing sounds", i.e. listening to requests. The wooden sculpture is covered with thick polychrome, consisting of black lacquer, primer and gold leaf. With his right hand he makes the abhaya-mudra gesture, or in Buddhist mythology the murda of "no fear" (a-bhaja), symbolizing care, and with his left hand the apana-mudra gesture symbolizing pure energy, purification, also of one's own body from toxins and impurities.