This sculpture depicts a seated Guanyin, the Goddess of Mercy, with her two attendants amidst a grotto. The pair of attendants represents the boy pilgrim Sudhana, also know as Shancai Tongzhi, and the dragon princess. Representations of Guanyin accompanied by this pair have been seen in Chinese art from the 12th centuries onwards. The craggy rocks and lotus flowers rising through swirling waves at the base at a dramatic quality to the piece.The lotus flowers represent purity while the mountainous form can be seen as a symbol of Guanyin’s legendary island home, Mount Putuo (普陀山) located off the coast of Zhejiang province.
