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Antique Avalokiteshvara Sahasrabhuja

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SKU

054

This bronze statue represents Avalokiteshvara Sahasrabhuja, the Thousand-Armed Bodhisattva of Compassion, here shown in a compact form with multiple heads and arms. The figure stands on a lotus pedestal, with the central hands joined in añjali mudra, while the other arms hold symbolic attributes. The stacked heads express Avalokiteshvara’s all-seeing wisdom, while the many arms symbolize the infinite ability to help sentient beings.

€950.00

Estimated Value: €2.200

Authentic fire-gilded bronze Avalokiteshvara with multiple arms, cast using traditional lost-wax technique. The sculpture retains remnants of original mercury gilding with natural wear consistent with age and devotional handling. Microscopic examination confirms granular gold residues embedded in the bronze surface, excluding modern plating or applied leaf. Pre-industrial construction, stable antique condition. Height 30 cm, weight 1.2 kg.

Antique Avalokiteshvara Sahasrabhuja

In stock

Description

This finely cast bronze statue depicts Avalokiteshvara Sahasrabhuja, the Thousand-Armed Bodhisattva of Compassion, presented here in a compact and symbolic form. The figure is shown with multiple arms and stacked heads, a visual language that embodies Avalokiteshvara’s limitless compassion and wisdom. The central hands are joined in añjali mudra, the gesture of reverence, while the surrounding arms display attributes associated with protection, guidance, and spiritual support.

The stacked heads represent Avalokiteshvara’s all-seeing presence: serene at the base, wrathful above to overcome ignorance, and crowned at the top with the image of Amitabha Buddha, his spiritual guide. The multiple arms, although far fewer than the thousand of the full manifestation, serve as a condensed symbol of his ability to reach out in all directions to aid suffering beings.

Measuring 30 cm in height, 14 cm in width, and 6 cm in depth, and weighing 1.2 kg, the statue rests upon a delicately rendered lotus pedestal. The lotus, rising pure from the mud, reinforces Avalokiteshvara’s role as a savior and guide to enlightenment. The surface shows a natural aged patina, with subtle traces of original fire gilding, suggesting a long history of ritual use and devotional handling.

Such images of Sahasrabhuja Avalokiteshvara were especially revered in the Himalayan Buddhist world, particularly in Tibet, Nepal, and Ladakh, where they were central to liturgical practice. Compact bronzes like this one were intended both as objects of private devotion and as offerings in temples, embodying the ideal of infinite compassion in a form that could be kept close to the practitioner.

The refined proportions, intricate details, and symbolic richness mark this as an authentic example of Himalayan Buddhist art, balancing spiritual significance with artistic mastery. It is not only a devotional icon but also a cultural expression of one of Buddhism’s most enduring ideals — the universal compassion of Avalokiteshvara.