Multi-Armed, Multi-Headed Avalokiteshvara (Guanyin) — Fire-Gilded

Description

This rare multi-armed and multi-headed Avalokiteshvara (Guanyin) statue represents an esoteric form of the Bodhisattva of Compassion, symbolising enlightened activity and universal mercy. The figure is cast in bronze and retains remnants of original fire gilding, now naturally worn through age and ritual use. The stacked heads express expanded awareness, while the radiating arms signify the bodhisattva’s ability to act in multiple directions simultaneously.

The sculpture was produced using traditional pre-industrial casting techniques and features a fully sealed base, consistent with historic ritual bronzes. Microscopic examination confirms original mercury fire gilding embedded in the metal surface, excluding modern plating or applied leaf.

Origin: China, Qing dynasty period, 18th–early 19th century. Material: Fire-gilded bronze. Dimensions: Height 30 cm × Width 14 cm × Depth 6 cm. Weight: 1.2 kg.