The bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara (Chinese: Guanyin) holding a boy

There are thousands of different incarnations of this Chinese Goddess of Mercy who is worshipped by both Buddhists and Daoists alike. Small figurines of Guanyin were made for altars in homes and temples. This protector of children is represented holding a boy astride a tiger in her left hand and is attended to by a boy and a girl standing on both sides. She is presented in a white robe outlined in underglaze-black over white slip. Behind her is an openwork rock glazed in brown. The pedestal is molded with two phoenixes on both the front and the rear.