Adam's FINE ASIAN ART 28th,29th,30th Preview June 2022

40 A STONE-EMBELLISHED GILT COPPER ALLOY FIGURE OF AN ELEVEN-HEADED AVALOKITESVARA TIBETO CHINESE, QING DYNASTY Mercury gilt and initially stone embellished. Exquisitely modeled and standing on a single lotus rank base, with his two prin- ciple hands in front of his chest in anjali mudra and holding various implements in his six radiating hands (here only the lotus blossom and the kundika are left) dressed in a pleated two-tier ankle-length dhoti incised with a floral pattern, adorned with jewelry festoons and an antelope skin draped over the left shoulder, the eleven faces arranged in tiers, each surmounted by a jeweled tiara, the primary head with cascading locks of hair, the face with almond shaped eyes and bow-shaped mouth, the verso with a sealed consecration chamber, richly gilt overall with polychromy remaining. The base is sealed with a plaque centered by a vajra. H: 36,5 cm Weight: 1330 grams Provenance: - a private collection; - Juan Carlos Katzenstein (1925-2018), an Argentinian Diplomat, who was an Ambassador in Beijing, China, from December 6, 1975 to Janu- ary 2, 1978, and later to the Holy See (Vatican) and to the Sovereign Order of Malta from 1989 to 1991 (by repute). Note: The origin of the eleven-headed Avalokiteshvara is shrouded by many legends. In one version, the bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara vowed to never give up practicing tender loving compassion and would not reach enlightenment until all beings had reached nirvana. He tried for eons with no avail and when he saw no decrease in suffering of living things within samsara, his head split into a thousand pieces in despair. His spiritual father, Amitabha, consolidated them into ten heads and placed them above each other, then putting his own head on top. The wrathful aspect of Avalokiteshvara, Mahakala, came into existence to fight against negative forces with compassion, guiding all living things toward righteousness and achieving enlightenment. €10,000 - €15,000 FORMERLY THE PROPERTY OF JUAN CARLOS KATZENSTEIN (1925-2018) A PROMINENT ARGENTINE DIPLOMAT (BY REPUTE) ⒸDR