Ivory Carving - Kwan Yin holding a Ju-I Scepter - 70 Pounds

Antiques > Ivories Dealer: Smokee's Contact: Henry Hebing - Email Dealer
Price: $70,000.00 USD  - Currency Converter Shipping inside United States: $3,500.00 Shipping outside United States: Quoted at time of purchase

Description: AUCTION ESTIMATE = $70,000 - ULTRA RARE - KWAN YIN holding a JU-I SCEPTER - 44" - 70 POUNDS! This magnificent carving depicts Kwan Yin, the goddess of mercy, with an elaborate headdress, flowing robes and floral collar holding a malachite inlaid Ju-I Scepter. This is an incredible massive carving at 44" tall and weighing 70 pounds! This is the largest ivory carving, by far, we have ever seen or had the privilege to own. The Ascended Lady Master Kwan Yin means “the sovereign who looks on the sounds of the world.” According to legend, she paused on the threshold of heaven to listen to the cries of the world. Kwan Yin was worshiped in China before the advent of Buddhism and thereafter adopted by Buddhists as an incarnation of Avalokitesvara. She has come to be known in the West as the Goddess of Mercy. It is said that Kwan Yin took embodiment as the third daughter of Miao Chuang Wang, identified with the Chou dynasty, a ruler of a northern Chinese kingdom c. 696 B.C. According to legend, she was determined to devote herself to a religious life and refused to be married despite the command of her father and the entreaties of her friends. Finally, however, she was permitted to enter the Nunnery of the White Bird in Lung-shu Hsien. Here, at her father’s orders, she was put to the most demeaning tasks which in no way dampened her zealous love for God. Angered by her devotion, Miao Chuang Wang ordered her to be executed, but when the sword touched her it was broken into a thousand pieces. Her father then commanded her to be stifled, but when her soul left her body and descended into hell she transformed it into paradise. Carried on a lotus flower to the island of P’ootoo, near Nimpo, she lived for nine years healing the diseased and saving mariners from shipwreck. It is said that once, when word was brought to her that her father had fallen ill, she cut the flesh from her arms and used it as a medicine which saved his life. In gratitude, he ordered that a statue be erected in her honor, commissioning the artist to depict her with “completely formed arms and eyes.” The artist misunderstood, however, and to this day Kwan Yin is sometimes shown with a “thousand arms and a thousand eyes,” thereby able to see and assist the masses of her people. Kwan Yin is absolutely stunning. She has a lovely face, flowing robes and floral collar and marvelous proportions bestowed upon her by the artist. She holds in her hands a Ju-I Scepter. The Ju-i in the Ch’ing Dynasty was presented to high court officials as a marker of Imperial favor. The Ju-i tradition is thousands of years old. Originally thought to be a short sword, used for pointing, it later became a primitive phallic symbol given by the Emperor to a favorite consort. It reached its present symbolism in the Tang Dynasty during the 7th and 8th centuries. Kwan Yin also wears an elaborate phoenix headdress. The phoenix is the emblem of the Empress. It only appears during times of peace and prosperity. It ranks second of the 4 supernatural creatures. The phoenix represents the 5 Human Qualities – Virtue, Duty, Correct Behavior, Humanity and Reliability. It also represents sun and warmth for the summer harvest and symbolizes peace, beauty and good fortune. This carving is genuine elephant IVORY and in EXCELLENT CONDITION considering its age. There are some minor losses and some of the smaller pieces had to be reglued since some of the original glue had lost its staying power in the past. It was HAND CARVED and HAND SCRIMSHAWED in China by a gifted master craftsman in the 1800s. It has a lovely patina that nature has chosen to bestow upon it. This carving is UNIQUE and exhibits beautiful IVORY GRAIN which is guaranteed to be clearly visible. The ivory has been highly polished and exquisitely detailed. The quality of the ivory, the quality of the carving and the quality of the scrimshaw work are all exceptional. This carving was legally imported into the USA and can only be shipped to locations within the USA. In January of 2006 Columbus (the experts in Asian art) provided an auction estimate on this piece of $70,000 in its current condition. Auction estimates are conservative and typically well below appraised values. This would be a truly monumental addition to your collection of fine Asian art and should only increase in value over the years. Dimensions: 44.00” x 16.00” x 13.00" Weight: 70 pounds

Status: For Sale	Reference#: O_453
Condition: See Description	Year: See Description
Country: China
Height: 44.00 in. (111.76 cm)	Depth: 13.00 in. (33.02 cm)
Width: 16.00 in. (40.64 cm)	Weight: 70.00
Materials: Ivory

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