Seated Guanyin (late 1100s–1200s): Art, History and Details

Seated Guanyin (late 1100s–1200s) is in the Cleveland Museum of Art collection.

The work and its context

The museum's open-access catalogue describes the work:

The South Sea Guanyin was originally seated on a rocky throne to represent the shore of his home in the mythical island of Potala. His right leg is raised, the arm resting on the folded knee in a relaxed position. With an expression of grace, calmness, and compassion, the Guanyin is especially appealing as the "guide of souls" who offers hope for salvation.

Object facts

• Title: Seated Guanyin
• Date: late 1100s–1200s
• Culture: China, late Northern Song dynasty (960-1127) - Jin dynasty (1115-1234)
• Type: Sculpture
• Technique: wood with polychromy and gilding
• Dimensions: Overall: 138 cm (54 5/16 in.)
• Collection: China - Song Dynasty
• Department: Chinese Art
• Accession number: 1984.70

A detail from the museum

After acquisition, the CMA conservator meticulously used surgical knives and etching tools to uncover the sculpture's original polychromy and gilding, hidden beneath layers of protective varnish and paint.

Collection credit

Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund

Further reading listed by the museum

• Yamanaka & Company. Collection of Chinese and Other Far Eastern Art. New York, N.Y.: [Printed by the John B. Watkins Co., New York], 1943.
• Sotheby Parke Bernet Inc., New York. Oriental Art, Part I, Liquidation of the Entire Stock of the New York Store with Additions from the Chicago Store of Yamanaka & Co., Inc.. May 24–27, 1944.
• Wilson, Philip and Alison Brand. Art at Auction: The Year at Sotheby's 1983-84. London: Sotheby's Publications, 1984.

View the collection record

See the museum's photographs and full catalogue entry. Catalogue text is reproduced from the Cleveland Museum of Art's open-access data, with HTML formatting removed. This object and its supplied image are designated CC0.