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I am still trying to find out more information on this bronze, from what I have learned it was guilded at one time but has worn off in several areas due to handling. Here are some makrings and more pics!

Thank you in advance!

So sorry to post so many times, I tried to get the pics into one but it will only hold 3, sorry for the repeats.

Still looking for info on the statue, these are the markings on it. It appears to have been gilt but is worn off in places I believe from handling over the years. I have a series of close up pics I will be adding to this post so if anyone has any ideas of what it could be, they are appreciated. I have been told it is anything from Tibetan, Japanese, or Chinese, I have looked at over 2000 pictures of bronze statues from various cultures and still can not find anything similar but the base, and one close to the headress, but I forgot which one I was looking at.

A special thank you to those whom have emailed me, I have been very under the weather the past few weeks, so my appologies.

I am looking to eventually sell the sattue, but I would like to know what it is?

Sincerely,

Betty

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Betty this bronze is definitely Japanese in style and is probably a representation of Kannon.

I can�t advise you on age, take it to one of the auction houses and get a proper appraisal.

I believe this represents the goddess Tara. The holes in her hand show that some pieces are missing, one should be a lotus flower.

I agree one should be a lotus flower, or something??

I did do some research on the Tara, and stumbled upon the Kwan-Yin, so I looked up many of both, and it looks more like the Chinese Kwan-Yin, I say that because of the garment and headress, as I saw one very close, and many of the headresses on the Kwan-Yin are much more similar.

I did have the chance to take it to a local dealer here, and she said it was gold plated not gilded, and it is a 3 piece statue, that is came apart in 3 seperate pieces. The base being one, the second being the part on which it stands, then the body..

Back to more research! I did send many photos to museums and such, no response yet.

Thank you for your help. Still searching!

Thank you Mike. I have looked at many pictures of the Japanese Kannon statues and can find nothing remotely similar, at least not so far. Do you have a link online to where I might find some information as I am beating my head against the wall on it.

There are not any auction houses near me, I am in a remote area in the mountains of northern CA, and I do not drive. I also would not feel comfortable just sending it off anywhere, nor can I afford to as I am to have surgery in a week and I will be off work for several months following it.

Thank you for your help.

try googleing 'asuka kannon', you should find some similar.

This is the earlier 'male' form not the female 'Kuan-yin' type, the missing attribute is probably a vase

The Japanese reproduced a lot of statues in early styles in the late 19th/early 20th century which is why you should get it looked at as the difference in value between an early and later piece will be considerable.

There are some action houses which will give an opinion via photos posed via their website, I think Christies does this though you might have a long wait for a reply.

You could try www.woolleyandwallis.co.uk which is a provincial British auction house with an Asian dept that also offers this service, they might be quicker than Christies.

It's unlikely they will give a firm date or valuation without handleing the piece but would be a good place to start.

Thank you Mike, I will send them a email! I did send one to Christies about 2 months ago, as you said, they are slow but busy I am sure.

I am exhausted from endlessly looking at website after website trying to find out any information on it. But I have had a crash course on asian history along this journey!

On the apprasial done in 1971 is was said to be 17c or earlier. Then the local dealer here said the same, so I guess that is the upside.

Betty,

Some auction houses give a free auction estimate from pictures. Obviously, it is not necessarily accurate since the appraiser didn't get to see and handle your item but it could provide some useful information.

Pick an auction house that has a strong Asian art department. For an example, see "Auction Estimates" at the link below.

Cheers,
Stan

URL Title :Free Estimate

Thank you Stan! I will email them. I would really like to find another statue that looks just like it,lol...that would help a lot! Like with other antiques, most are easy to identify due to the amount of production during the time. But then you have the one of a kind pieces, I have beautiful vase made by Rookwood, I am the second owner of it. But due to the upcoming surgery it is being auctioned June 7th by the Cincinnati Art Gallery, auction estimate 15,000-18,000. Otherwise it would never leave my posession.....There is a family joke here, "You can take it with you when you go" so no sibbilings are left to fight over it,lol...

Thank you for your help!

I received a call from Bonhams & Butterfields today. They believe the statue is a Chinese gilt bronze Guayin for the 8th or 9th century and told me in detail about it.

Thank you everyone here!

Betty

Betty,

Good luck with it!

I pray your surgery goes well and you are back to collecting ASAP.

Cheers,
Stan

Thank you Stan very much.

I am in hopes it all goes well also. I had one surgery in Oct 07, it was done by a doctor I did not even hire or know (I was farmed out) and I was AWAKE for the whole thing while I was sliced and diced by a doctor with no experience doing my surgery...then a week later had to have emergency surgery to have it done right, but in the first surgery my nerves were severed! So instead of being off work for 1 week it ended up being almost 3 months with many complications. So this is 1 of up to 4 more surgeries I have to have now......the inept docs excuse for not putting me under was "We were out of anasthesia" how do you run out???? It has been mind boggling and hellish to say the least!

Many thanks again!

Betty

Betty,

You should not be selling art to pay for these surgeries. The hospital should be paying you to endure them to fix their mistakes.

Good luck,
Stan

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