Chinese lacquered Guanyin in meditation 22cm x 11cm 19th Century or earlier Condition: As seen, lacquer has flaked off in areas giving the piece a beautiful sense age to it. Wood has split at the front of the base. Guanyin sits in padmasana with the hands held in dhyana mudra, right hand over the left,the mudra of meditation which symbolizes the attainment of spiritual perfection or enlightenment. The traditional outer garment is open at the chest revealing a necklace-like pectoral decoration round the neck, a skirt double-belted at the waist and long and very wide sleeves that fall in loose folds over the plain throne. The throne itself is covered with a carved ritual cloth that falls below Guanyin in long arched folds and pleats. The back of the deity contains a vertical cavity used for placing sacred documents, including sutras and messages to ancestors.