Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva

CHINA; Northern Wei dynasty

The standing figure at the front of this double-sided piece is Avalokitesvara holding a lotus that rises to intersect a flaming mandorla. The Bodhisattva’s body is unornamented. A stole entwines about the figure and a diaphanous skirt allows the shape of the legs to show through.
The legs become a supporting element of the petal-shaped composition on the back that shows an incised seated Buddha in a voluminous robe accompanied by a kneeling donor. The votary object stands on a four-legged base with a further two donors engraved at the front and an inscription at the back. The inscription states Guo Wulian dedicated the statue in 499 for his own benefit. The style of the piece is typical of the Shandong area.