Vintage Japanese Bizen Yaki Okimono
Kannon Bosatsu
In Contemplation Gesture
Signature: unsigned. Circa: Early 1950s'
H 11.5 in. (29cm), W 3.5 in. (9cm), D 3.5 in. (9cm)
Firing crack on base, overall very good condition!
Statues of Kannon inspire a greater affection in Japan than do any other Buddhist figures. As in this representation of the Bodhisattva of Compassion, Kannon Bosatsu appears as a youthful maiden. She is dressed in the Tang style Chinese long robe. Her hands are hidden a secret mudra in long sleeves, forming a harmonious flow of perfect symmetry, with a hint of the Western influence which penetrated Japan during the Meiji era. The Bizen okimono is beautifully modeled. It has an ironlike hardness from prolonged high heat, varied colors from earthen reddish-brown to dark umber, with traces of molten ash resembling glaze on a semi-gloss silken surface, and mellow texture markings resulting from skilled wood-burning kiln firing. Other than a thin shrinkage crack on the base, overall the okimono is in excellent condition
