There are water stains along the left hand side of the painting with associated areas of loss to the pigments. There are traces of glue around all four rims of the unpainted cloth where it may have been glued onto a passe-partout or frame. There is very light overall wear to the pigments and some scratches. The painting is finely painted, the colours rich and vibrant with fine gold detailing.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

This painting depcits Avalokiteshvara in the cosmic form of the bodhisattva with a tower of heads and a fan of arms. The uppermost red-coloured head of the deity represents Buddha Amitabha, the bodhisattva's spiritual progenitor. The ten heads beneath symbolise the steps on the path to Buddhist enlightenment, the principal hands held before the heart symbolically protect the ratna jewel of this enlightened state. This form is one of the most popular manifestations of the bodhisattva in Tibetan Buddhism, the faith that was espoused by the Qianlong emperor. Compare with an Imperial thangka of the same eleven-headed Avalokitesvara dated to the Qianlong period in the Collection of the Palace Museum, Beijing, illustrated in Tangka Paintings in the Collection of the Palace Museum, Beijing, 2010, no. 164. Compare also with another 18th century Imperial thangka of the same subject, sold Sotheby's Paris, 18th December 2012, lot 29.