A CARVED SOAPSTONE FIGURE OF GUANYIN, LATE QING TO REPUBLIC China, 1850-1949. Finely carved standing with her hands clasped at the front beneath her open robes, the hems and robes neatly incised with cloud scroll, the hems further inlaid with faux-pearls. The serene face with heavy-lidded downcast eyes, flanked by long pendulous ears. The hair pulled up into a tall chignon centered by a tiara neatly incised with an image of the Amitabha Buddha beneath a loosely draped cowl. The translucent stone is of a deep amber tone transmuting to pale yellow at her right shoulder and back.

Provenance: French trade, by repute acquired from an old private estate.
Condition: Excellent condition with minor wear, shallow surface scratches and microscopic nicks here and there. Good, unctuous feel overall.

Weight: 267.6 g
Dimensions: Height 15.8 cm

Auction result comparison: Compare a related soapstone figure of Guanyin, 27 cm high, also with faux-pearl inlay and dated late Qing to Republic, at Bonhams San Francisco in Asian Decorative Art on 9 September 2008, lot 2376, sold for USD 27,000.

清末民初皂石雕觀音立像
中國，1850-1949年。精美雕刻觀音立像，雙手下垂，右手搭在左手上；衣襟上雕刻著祥雲紋並鑲嵌著人造珍珠。面部表情沉穩，雙眼微閉，長耳垂。頭髮挽成一個高髻，中央坐著阿彌陀佛像，戴著頭帔。半透明的石料呈深琥珀色，右肩和背部成淡黃色。

來源：法國古玩市場，據説來自私人老收藏。
品相：狀況極好，有輕微磨損、表面淺劃痕和很多的微小刻痕。外觀瑩潤。

重量：267.6 克
尺寸：高15.8厘米

拍賣結果比較：比較一個相近的清末民初皂石觀音像，高27厘米，嵌珠，見舊金山邦翰思 Asian Decorative Art 2008年9月9日 lot 2376, 售價USD 27,000。