The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of April 18, 2024

Potalaka Guanyin

Potalaka Guanyin

900s
(907-960)
Carved sandalwood with traces of paint
Overall: 15.1 x 9.9 cm (5 15/16 x 3 7/8 in.)
Gift of Mrs. A. Dean Perry 1965.556
Location: not on view

Did You Know?

Mount Potala is the mythical home of the bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara, called Guanyin in Chinese.

Description

This portable figure of Guanyin, the Bodhisattva of Compassion who vowed to stay on earth to help human beings, is carved of precious sandalwood. It is lavishly covered with garlands of flowers that retain traces of the original red paint. The small sculpture may have been used in a private devotional context.
  • ?–1965
    (Ellsworth and Goldie, Ltd., New York, NY, sold to the Cleveland Museum of Art)
    1965–
    The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
  • Lee, Sherman E. “Golden Anniversary Acquisitions: September 10 through October 16.” The Bulletin of the Cleveland Museum of Art 53, no. 7 (1966): 181–284. Mentioned: p. 285, no. 151; Reproduced: p. 267, no. 151 www.jstor.org
    The Cleveland Museum of Art. Handbook of the Cleveland Museum of Art/1966. Cleveland, OH: The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1966. Reproduced: p. 254 archive.org
    Lee, Sherman E. “Kleinkunst: Two Early Chinese Wood Sculptures.” Archives of Asian Art 20 (1966): 66–70. Reproduced: p. 67, figs. 1–3; Mentioned: pp. 66–70 www.jstor.org
    The Cleveland Museum of Art. Handbook of the Cleveland Museum of Art/1969. Cleveland, OH: The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1969. Reproduced: p. 254 archive.org
    Jenkins, Donald, and Robin Scribnick. Masterworks in Wood: China and Japan: [Exhibition] Portland Art Museum, November 4 Through December 5, 1976, Asia House Gallery, January 13 Through March 20, 1977. Portland, OR: Portland Art Museum, 1976. Reproduced: cat. no. 11
    The Cleveland Museum of Art. Handbook of the Cleveland Museum of Art/1978. Cleveland, OH: The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1978. Reproduced: p. 335 archive.org
    Watson, William. L'art de l'ancienne Chine. Paris: Mazenod, 1979. Reproduced: colorplate no. 92
    Hai wai yi zhen. fo xing [Chinese art in overseas collections, Buddhist sculpture = 海外遺珎. 佛像]. Taibei Shi Shilin qu Waishuangxi: Guo li gu gong bo wu yuan, 1986. Reproduced: pl. 124
    Sun, Di 孙迪, editor. Zhongguo liu shi hai wai Fo jiao zao xiang zong he tu mu [中国流失海外佛教造像总合图目= Comprehensive Illustrated Catalogue of Chinese Buddhist Statues in Overseas Collections]. Beijing: Wai wen chu ban she, 2005. vol. 6, p. 1242
  • China through the Magnifying Glass: Masterpieces in Miniature and Detail. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (December 11, 2022-February 26, 2023).
    Masterworks of Wood: China and Japan. Portland Art Museum, Portland, OR (organizer) (November 4-December 5, 1976); Asia House Galleries, New York City, NY (January 13-March 27, 1977).
  • {{cite web|title=Potalaka Guanyin|url=false|author=|year=900s|access-date=18 April 2024|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1965.556