A FINE AND EARLY GILT-COPPER FIGURE OF AVALOKITESHVARA Nepal, ca. 13th ct. H. 22,6 cm Seated in vajrasana on a lotus-base with his right hand in varadamudra while the left is resting on his lap, a lotus flowering along his left upper arm, wearing diaphanous dhoti tied around the waist with a ribbon knotted to the front, bejewelled, his face displaying a serene expression with downcast eyes below arched eyebrows running into the nose-bridge, raised urna at his forehead, elongated earlobes with circular ear-ornaments, his hairdo combed in a chignon and secured with a three-leaf diadem decorated with a pair of pattras. Belgium private collection, marked on a label by the previous owner 'collected 1973' Re-sealed, wear to gilding, very slightly chipped, small drilled hole in the front above the stand