03/05/2026
A Chinese Polychrome and Gilt Wood Carving of Songzi Guanyin, the “Bringer of Sons,” likely dating to the Late 19th Century (Qing Dynasty) or the Early 20th Century (Republic Period).
Formal Object Identification
• Subject: Songzi Guanyin (Guanyin with Child). According to the Lotus Sutra, Guanyin can take 33 forms; this specific “Child-Giving” manifestation was heavily influenced by Jesuit imagery of the Virgin Mary and Baby Jesus arriving in China in the 16th century.
• Artistry: The figure is seated on a Lotus Throne emerging from stylized water/waves. The consecration cavity on the back (the hollowed square) is a critical historical feature; it was used to house “spirit” items like sutras or herbs to dedicate the statue for worship.
• Technique: Carved from a single block of wood (likely camphor or elm), finished with gesso (a plaster-like base), then polychromed (painted) and accented with gilt (gold leaf).
