Antique carved wooden sculpture, possibly depicting Guan Yin. Posed seated with one knee up and resting an arm on that knee. Wearing a headpiece with jewelry and wrapped cloth around shoulders. Approximately 23 inches tall and 17 inches wide.Evident wearing to sculpture due to age and use.Loss to third eye.Antique Asian deity sculpture, wooden sculpture, Buddha sculpture, Buddhist deity, Taoism, Buddhism, Asian arts, Asian sculpture, home decor, Asian decor, Orientalism, orientalia. 12 BProperty of Manhattan estate, Asian artifacts collector and professor at private university in Japan. Guanyin is the Chinese translation of Avalokiteshvara, the bodhisattva of compassion. Bodhisattvas are enlightened beings who chose to stay on earth as accessible examples for Buddhist faithful to follow. Originally depicted as a male or gender-neutral entity able to take on thirty-three manifestations, Avalokiteshvara is a compassionate savior who hears the woes of humankind, regardless of age, gender, or social class. However, in imperial China, Guanyin became increasingly cemented as a female figure. Similar to the Virgin Mary, Guanyin became a popular intercessor for humanity to understand divine salvation. MetMuseumm.org