344 - A SMALL BLACK STONE AVALOKITESHVARA TIBET OR INDIA 15TH CENTURY

A SMALL BLACK STONE AVALOKITESHVARA TIBET OR INDIA 15TH CENTURY Dimensions: Height 4,5 cm Wide 3,5 cm Depth 2,5 cm Weight: 35 grams A miniature fifteenth-century black stone sculpture of Avalokiteshvara from Tibet or India, seated in a relaxed devotional posture upon a finely carved lotus base. The bodhisattva's compact body, raised arm and closely worked ornaments are articulated in surprisingly deep relief for an object of such intimate scale. Smooth, dark stone catches the light along the face, limbs and petals, bringing subtle contrasts to the sculptural details. Avalokiteshvara, revered throughout the Buddhist world as the embodiment of compassion, appears here in a beautifully concentrated form suited to personal contemplation. The combination of glossy black material, balanced composition and delicate carving gives this small image considerable visual presence.