A BRONZE FIGURE OF AVALOKITESHVARA, SOUTH THAILAND,... Lot 365

A BRONZE FIGURE OF AVALOKITESHVARA, SOUTH THAILAND, 8TH-9TH CENTURY Standing in samabhanga on a flat base with his hands radiating around him, the primary hands holding a kendi and gesturing in shunya mudra, the secondary hands raised near the shoulder. Dressed in a diaphanous dhoti secured around the waist with a beaded belt, the slender figure adorned with ornate jewelry. The serene face with heavy-lidded eyes below arched brows, full lips, and his hair arranged in wavy locks, secured by a beaded tiara, pulled into a high chignon centered by a diminutive Amitabha Buddha. Provenance: From the private collection of Darwin Freeman. Born 1946 in Idaho, USA, Darwin Freeman was a member of the armed forces and later became an avid collector. He met his wife in the mid-1960s, and the pair later relocated to her hometown of Innsbruck, Austria. In 1967, Freeman was drafted into the U.S. Army and served in Germany and Thailand. While he was stationed at the Embassy in Bangkok, between 1969 and 1971, he actively began engaging in the exploration and collection of ancient bronzes and other works of art. Upon completing his duty, Freeman arranged for his collection to be shipped to Austria, where it remained in storage until this day. Condition: Very good condition, commensurate with age, with wear. Signs of weathering and erosion, casting flaws, soil encrustations, small nicks, and small cracks to the feet. The bronze is covered in a rich, naturally grown patina with bright malachite encrustations. Weight: 1,050 g (incl. stand) Dimensions: Height 30.5 cm (incl. stand), 25.5 cm (excl. stand) Mounted on a modern stand. Literature comparison: For another Avalokiteshvara see Diskul, The Art of Shrivijaya, 1980, pl. 25. Also see Van Beek, The Arts of Thailand, 1985, ill. p. 24. Compare with an earlier two-armed Maitreya in Chutiwongs & Leidy, Buddha of the Future, Singapore, 1994, no. 47, p. 81. Also compare with a mid-10th century Lokanatha and Siva Mahadeva dated in the Songkhla National Museum published in Krairiksh, The Roots of Thai Art, Bangkok, 2012, pp. 177 & 248. Auction result comparison: Type: Related Auction: Bonhams New York, 17 September 2014, lot 172 Price: USD 10,000 or approx. EUR 12,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A copper alloy figure of Avalokiteshvara or Maitreya, South Thailand, 8th/9th century Expert remark: Compare the related modeling with similar pose. Note the significantly smaller size (16.5 cm)