A large ivory carving of Guanyin with Shancai and Xiaolongnu, 19th/20th century

the deity seated wearing loosely draped robes with incised borders and a shawl covering her high coiled chignon, and adorned with an elaborate necklace, her face with downcast gaze and slight smile, supporting with both hands a small boy resting on her folded right leg, her attendants standing on the rockwork base to either side, a set of books and her ambrosial vase resting on a higher ledge, and with pine and other leafy plants growing from the fissures in the overhangning rocky cliff, incised above with the character 'Buddha' picked out in red, and with an inscription to one side reading 'Guanyin Buddha on the Nanhai Guanyin Rock, a gift from the Gushan Datang', the underside with a four-character seal on a red cartouche reading Da Ming nian zhi (Made in the great Ming dynasty), the removable base with stepped fitted top projecting over the straight sides carved in deep relief with four niches containing Budai seated with jovial expression, a Luohan seated in meditation and alternating with two standing acolytes, encircled with lotus petals incised around the base and with entwined rope around the top and underside

(2)
57 cm high overall

Condition Report

The figure - a fine crack on the forehead of Guanyin from her hair to her left eyelid, and others over her left shoulder, a short crack over the forehead of the two boy figures. Some fine cracks over the rockwork and around the base. Generally good condition.
The base - a vertical crack to the left side of each figure. Some concentric cracks around the top and the base, and around the stepped underside of the top, all now with some discoloured infill. Some fine cracks around the platorm base.

Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's Australia is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Saleroom Notices regarding this sale. NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS.