Ming Longquan Celadon Porcelain Guanyin

We offer today a wonderful Chinese Longquan Celadon Porcelain Guanyin (Kwan Yin) dating from the Ming Dynasty. This Guan Yin has been acquired from the world famous collector of Chinese ceramics, Dr. Nearing and his Dragon's Lair Collection some years ago.

The Buddha is sitting in the double lotus position. The right hand is in the Karana mudra position, which expels negative energy or wards off evil.

It is about 10 1/4 inches tall.

It weighs about 1.949 kg.

It is very finely made, with extremely fine fingers, which clearly show the finger nails. The facial features are also fine.

It is partially covered with a crackled celadon glaze.

Great condition - take a look on the pictures. A similar piece was sold at Bonham's 2011 for 24000 U.S. Dollar, please check bonhams.com/auctions/19433/lot/8276/

Further information about Dr. Nearing - excerpt from a posting of the CBU University Canada:

A gift of 16 collections featuring 2,500 original art items was announced this evening by Dr. Joseph Nearing of Vancouver, BC and formerly of Donkin, Cape Breton. The James Nearing and Florence Giovannetti-Nearing Dragon Lair’s Collection was announced at the Annual Art Gallery Gala fundraiser. A sold out crowd of 300 guests was on hand to hear about the largely Asian collection, named in memory of Nearing’s parents of Donkin, with an estimated acquisition value of $500,000.

It is the largest one time gift ever donated to the Art Gallery.

Dr. Nearing’s dream for the bequeathed collection is that it will create wonder and curiosity within people and represent a living, teaching collection especially for students. 'If a student for example is studying the Song Dynasty of China, he/she will be able to access in a suitable secure teaching room, true Song items. Students will actually see, feel and examine the Song Dynasty still alive in the artifacts.' Best described as 'an eclectic collection of antiques and Objet d’Arts, dating from the Stone Age or Neolithic Era to the present day,' this avid art collector notes, 'The James Nearing and Florence Giovannetti-Nearing Collection is a collection created in Canada by an interested native Cape Bretoner for the people of Canada.' Dr. Nearing collected the items over the past five years. A retired doctor who received an honorary degree from CBU last weekend, Dr. Nearing spent his early years in Donkin, NS. Known as a leader in workplace health and safety he led a distinguished career in occupational health. During his career, he conducted research and helped develop standards and regulations on environmental and occupational exposure to toxins such as lead, arsenic and beryllium. Much of his work involved mines and mining.

'We were pleased to welcome Dr. Nearing back to Cape Breton for our Convocation. His generous gift has wondrously enlarged an evening of celebration. Tonight we celebrate this generosity and the vision of our friend who represents a true example of the university’s commitment to sustain community and culture,' says Dr. John Harker, President and Vice-Chancellor of CBU.

'This collection will be admired and treasured by students, researchers, collectors and communities around the world, and cherished as an ever-lasting gift to Cape Breton University.'

Dr. Nearing’s special passion for Chinese ceramics is reflected in the category entitled, Chinese Ceramics, Neolithic to Contemporary, which represents his dedication in collecting one item from each dynasty and brings with it 2,000 years of history and a fascinating look at the development of Chinese ceramic over the years.