A RARE POLYCHROME CARVED WOOD FIGURE OF 'GUANYIN IN ROYAL EASE, KANGXICarved of one single piece of hardwood, original and well-preserved polychrome lacquer painting and gildingChina, 17th - 18th centuryThe Bodhisattva seated in a position of royal ease, wearing loosely draped robes and a long flowing scarf falling around her shoulders and arms, her face with meditative expression framed by long pendulous ears and hair piled high under her hood. she wears a floral necklace. Guanyin depicted in the posture known as the 'royal ease' became standard representation of the Bodhisattva of Compassion in paradise after the tenth century. The present figure is particularly simple in its modelling, with Guanyin conveying a sense of profound thought and wisdom.Hardwood base. (2)Shape: Sculptural Weight: 963 gramsDimensions: 27.5 cmCondition: Superb condition especially of the lacquer and the gilding, with wear and patina consistent with age, and some chipping to edges as visible on the images, no restoration or inpainting whatsoever.Provenance: California private collection. Acquired in San Francisco in the 1920s. (two collector labels)Auction result comparison: CHINESE ART FROM CARAMOOR CENTER FOR MUSIC AND THE ARTS. Sotheby's, 15 MARCH 2016, NEW YORK, lot 142. (compare with a related figure of Guanyin)康熙罕見木雕多彩觀音交脚倚坐像單塊硬木雕刻，原始彩繪與鎏金中國，十七至十八世紀造型：造像 重量：963 克尺寸：27.5 厘米品相：保存極好，特別是彩漆與鎏金部分，有與年代相符的磨損和包漿，邊緣可見小磕碰，沒有任何修復來源：加利福尼亞私人收藏，上世紀二十年代購於舊金山（兩個藏家標簽）