A RARE SANDSTONE HEAD OF GUANYIN, SUI TO TANG DYNASTYChina, 581-906. Finely carved, the round face with soft features, arched eyebrows centered by an urna, heavy-lidded eyes, pronounced nose, full lips forming a subtle smile, flanked by elongated earlobes, the hair tied in a high chignon formed as a spiral.Provenance: Arcimboldo, Prague, Czech Republic, 27 May 2014, lot 47, sold for CZK 160,000 or approx.EUR 9,400 (converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing). A noted Czech private collection, acquired from the above.Condition:mensurate with age, extensive wear, signs of weathering, scratches, nicks, and few small losses, overall exactly as expected from authentic Sui and Tang dynasty sculptures.Weight: 6,322 g (excl. stand), 7,766 g (incl. stand)Dimensions: Height 28.5 cm (excl. stand), 39 cm (incl. stand)With an associated carved wood stand dating from the late Qing dynasty or Republic period. (2)Auction resultparison:Type: RelatedAuction: Christie’s New York, 14 September 2017, lot 815Price: USD 11,250 or approx.EUR 12,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writingDescription: A stone head of a bodhisattva, Sui dynastyExpert remark: Note the much smaller size (17.1 cm)隋至唐砂岩觀音頭像中國，581-906年。觀音五官柔和，彎眉連著鼻脛，眉心之上有白毫，雙眼微垂，嘴唇豐滿，露出神秘的微笑，兩側是細長的耳垂，頭髮盤成高髻。