Thousand Armed Avalokiteshvara Statue Value Guide

This early 20th-century bronze statue depicts Avalokiteshvara, the bodhisattva of infinite compassion, in the iconic thousand-armed form known as Guanyin in China. It is a highly collectible piece of Mahayana Buddhist iconography, featuring a complex cast of multiple arms and a radiating halo of hands atop a lotus throne.

What Is Thousand Armed Avalokiteshvara Statue Worth?

The typical price range for Thousand Armed Avalokiteshvara Statue is $350 - $385 based on recent sales. However, values can vary depending on the item's condition, rarity, and other factors such as:

• The intricacy and preservation of the many individual hands and symbolic attributes held within them.
• The quality of the bronze casting and the depth of the original surface patina.
• Overall structural integrity, specifically the absence of broken or missing arms in the halo.
• Market demand for mid-century Chinese Buddhist bronzes, currently valued in the $350-$385 range.

How to Identify Thousand Armed Avalokiteshvara Statue?

• Examine the bronze or copper alloy for a natural aged patina consistent with the 1900-1950 era.
• Verify the presence of the 'thousand arms' arranged in a circular halo formation behind the central figure.
• Look for traditional Chinese stylistic elements in the facial features and the tiered lotus throne base.
• Check for signs of traditional lost-wax casting methods rather than modern mass-produced seams.

History of Thousand Armed Avalokiteshvara Statue

Known as Guanyin in China and Chenrezig in Tibet, Avalokiteshvara is the bodhisattva of infinite compassion. This 'thousand-armed' form symbolizes the deity's vow to reach out and assist all sentient beings in their suffering. Such statues became popular in the Ming and Qing dynasties and are central to Mahayana Buddhist iconography.