Featured Guan Yin figure- age?

Hi all,what is the age if this carving? I was automatically thinking 20th century. But the little painted wooden stand looks much newer to me (even the pins) It has a minor but bad repair. I note there’s been many Guan related posts. This stands 26cm tall. Thank you all

 

looks like ivory from here, maybe stained to appear older though

 

Wow............. ivory ????

 

that's one big chunk ov carved beauty.....

 

Amazing and so beautiful!!!
That repair could be tidied up a bit, tho.

 

To my eye, it looks quite modern, although I can't suggest a specific date. Here is one on alamy that looks very similar in form and style but, unfortunately, no specific information accompanies the image -

https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-c...35caeda80159761b84f64e967f1b9ed2&searchtype=0

There were large factories in China producing ivory carvings up until 2017. In the 1980s the Beijing Ivory Carving Factory employed up to 400 craftsmen -

http://www.china.org.cn/english/culture/86118.htm

Here is an ivory Guanyin in a similar pose, described as "antique". It shows a greater amount of detail, particularly on the back -



https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/antique-chinese-carved-ivory-guanyin-14-80-c-41648538bf

 

It’s a beautiful piece. If it is ivory, I too am getting a modern vibe due to the coloring(could just be the photo) and the extreme lack of detail and flatness on the back top to the bottom compared to the front. Most older ivory would show the time put in. imo

 

Thank you for the reply,info and links. I agree against the older similar looking copies this one looks quite ‘new’. Interesting also to read about the factory was such a big business/operation in the past. And also now about the current ‘legal’ and limited ivory stock.

 

Thanks for the reply. It is a beautiful piece. I will post some photos in natural light (these photos were taken in the evening)

 

Thanks. I agree about repair work.

 

Not absolutely positive, but on that knee.....LOOKS like Schreger lines to me.....

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Thanks for the reply Komo. Interesting what is said in the article. Because of the very limited supply of legal ivory each carving must be perfect and nothing can be wasted. The carver training is also intense. Unfortunately this will probably become a near ‘dying’ art form.

 

Appreciate the opinion. Thanks Charlie.

 

Thanks. I also think so. But it’s such a solid big piece? I could only imagine that it must have cost a small fortune originally (particularly if this is a modern piece,as it seems it is) With the very low legal ivory stock available. Well I really hope this was legal. That’s very important to me.

 

Good luck to you (and the critters),it's a beautiful piece.

 

Thanks. The craftsmanship is beautiful. Also for the money this was good find.

 

If it's contemporary then.....ehhhh. As an example, the Japanese agreed in the 90s to ban the making of new tortoise items as soon as their "old stock" ran out. To probably no one's surprise, they don't keep track of said stock and there's no enforcement, so magically they've never run out even though they should have by now. They're not allowed to export either, but you can find new stuff on e bay coming from Japan right now (I report it when i see it).

So.....I would not hold my breath on contemporary pieces being "legal" (as far as that goes by individual countries, of course). You didn't know, and we still really don't know conclusively the age, so I would not beat myself up too much.

 

Thank you. I hear you have.
Appreciate and value your input.

 

Well Iam definitely thinking fairly ‘newer’ now (so possibly not that great) I will anyway take some additional photos. The look of the newish and lack of wear on the stand did make me wonder. But then I thought maybe it was placed. I didn’t know about ivory factories still operating. And one would think with the strict trade bans and legislation…

I also think AJ will have the ‘final say’ and then we’ll know..

 

Ditto. In Chinese carvings flat backs, or no detail on the back, mean carved from a photo, so recent. Most of these workers would never have seen an antique carving, so they don't know what the back is supposed to look like.
The same goes for bronzes.

I can see why you bought it though.