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Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva
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Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva
CHINA; Sui dynasty (581–618); Limestone; H: 132.2 cm; Nelson–Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, Missouri, USA
The statue is damaged, but considerable detail remains. Avalokitesvara wears a headdress fronted by a Buddha and decorated with foliated patterns. A ribbon runs along the rim of the headdress and drapes down on either side to overlap the shoulders. The tranquil face has closed eyes. A few pieces of simple jewelry decorate the body, with most notably being the long necklace that loops over the skirt. A stylized stole falls from the left shoulder to drape over the opposite arm. The top of the skirt folds down and is secured by a sharply defined draw string tied in a bow. This style of statue, with smooth and understated lines, is typical of the Northern Qi (550-577) to early Sui dynasties. |
