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Thousand-Armed Guanyin – White porcelain, China, late Qing period (late 19th / early 20th century)
A small sculpture that immediately draws the eye with its quiet radiance: a Thousand-Armed Guanyin modelled in glossy blanc de Chine porcelain, seated on a lotus in a posture of deep serenity. The smooth, compact surface, typical of Fujian kilns, creates an almost ethereal impression of purity, as if the figure were carved directly from light.
The goddess is shown with multiple arms, symbolising her ability to offer help in every direction. Open hands, small symbolic attributes, and the gesture of prayer at her chest all recall a centuries-old tradition, interpreted here with simple, immediate grace.
In Chinese culture, Guanyin is the great protector, invoked for fertility, health, safe travels, and that quiet inner peace one hopes to carry into everyday life. She is the “Merciful Mother”, a figure of comfort and attentive compassion, especially dear to women and children.
The white-porcelain craftsmanship of the late Qing period lends the sculpture its soft features and calm modelling, characteristics of works produced between the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. There is an ancient stillness in her presence—a silence that does not weigh, but instead accompanies the space around her with a discreet sense of balance.
Not an object to be given a minor role, but a small presence that invites contemplation and, according to tradition, carries with it a gentle promise of benevolence and good fortune.
A symbol of harmony, measured yet profound.
- Material: Glossy porcelain
- Size: cm 27 (H)
- Condition: Restored
- Period: Early 20th century
- Style: Late Qing
- State: Optimal conditions
