Guanyin, the Goddess of Mercy

At the entrance to the Front Gallery, you will be welcomed by Guanyin, the Goddess of Mercy, who stands 48 inches high and is 24 inches wide. She was carved from Indian elephant ivory in the twentieth-century style and originates from China.

The Guanyin resided in Mary Hulton Phillips’s living room and was flanked by a pair of mirror-image Indian elephant ivory curved tusk forms carved into feng huang (phoenix birds. There are additions of ivory stems with flowers alongside the main ivory tusks. The tusks are 47 inches high and 20 inches wide. They are carved in the twentieth-century style and originate from China.

The tusks continue to flank the Guanyin at the front entrance of the museum just as they did in the home of Mrs. Phillips.