ink and color on silk, mounted in brocade on a paper board, the deity seated on a green and red lotus blossom dressed in robes and sashes variously painted in red, green, or blue pigments and patterned with gold leaf, the body adorned with gilt jewelry including an elaborate necklace suspending jewels across the bare chest, armbands, and bracelets, the proper right arm suspended down with the wrist resting on the knee and the hand held in varada mudra, the proper left arm bent at the elbow and holding a golden 'pure water' kundika containing a long-stemmed lotus, the face with full cheeks, rosebud lips, and downcast eyes beneath long thin eyebrows, framed by long locks of navy blue hair pulled into a high chignon and falling over the shoulders, an elaborate gilt diadem crowning the head, a double mandorla radiating in concentric bands behind the figure, all against a dark gray ground

Collection of Hovsep Pushman (1877-1966).

There is discoloration, fading, and flakes to the pigments throughout, with particular flaking to the pinks and flesh tones. Water damage has caused some areas to whiten with mildew, and has especially affected the lower edge (I.e., the bottom 11 cm of the painting, all across) causing discoloration to the silk and pigments, and flakes, losses, and splits to the paperboard backing. The vertical seam where the panels of silk were originally stitched together is visible from age-related wear. There is a small patch to the proper right side of the painting (approx. 1.5 x 1 cm). All of the above are shown in the catalog illustration.
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.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Hovsep Pushman was an Armenian-born painter who worked in the United States for most of his career. He amassed a vast collection of Asian art and often used artworks from his collection as the subject matter of his own paintings. The present portrait of Guanyin, for instance, was used as the background in Pushman's oil on panel painting titled Goddess of Mercy, painted ca. 1960 (no. 668 in the artist's catalogue raisonné).