u/shitswithdoorajar

I’ve had this large wooden Guanyin statue for years that I originally bought from an antique dealer. At the time I was told it was 17th century and from Thailand, but I never verified that.

Recently, during a move, the lips fell off and revealed another set of painted lips underneath. That made me realize the piece has multiple paint layers, likely from different periods.

Details:

Carved wood core

Painted surface over what looks like a gesso/plaster layer

Significant age-related wear: cracking, flaking, losses

Seated in a relaxed pose (one arm resting on the knee)

Dimensions: approx. 5’11” tall, 3’6” wide, 3 feet deep

From what I’ve learned so far, it may actually be more in line with Chinese “Water-Moon Guanyin” figures rather than Thai, and possibly later than 17th century—but I’m not sure.

I’m not planning to sell it, but I want to:

Get a realistic sense of value

Decide how much to insure it for

Figure out if professional conservation is worth the cost

Questions:

Rough value range in this condition?

Does the condition (paint loss, cracks, repairs) significantly impact value?

Does this look like something genuinely old vs a later decorative piece?

Would conservation typically increase, decrease, or not affect value in cases like this?

Happy to provide more photos if helpful. Thanks for any insight.

I’ve had this large wooden Guanyin for years that I bought from an antique dealer. At the time I was told it was 17th century and from Thailand, but I didn’t ask many questions back then.

Recently, during a move, the lips on the statue fell off and revealed another set of painted lips underneath. That got me digging into how these were made, and now I’m trying to understand what I actually have.

A few details:

Carved wood core

Surface appears to have a gesso/plaster layer with paint over it

Significant cracking and flaking throughout

Multiple visible paint layers (especially now on the face)

Seated in a relaxed “royal ease” pose with one arm resting on the knee

Large scale 5 feet 11 inches tall, 3 feet 6 inches wide , 3 feet deep.

From what I’ve learned so far, it seems like:

Multiple paint layers may be from different repainting campaigns over time

The pose and style might align more with Chinese “Water-Moon Guanyin” rather than Thai origin

What I’m hoping to learn from people here:

Does the style and carving look more Chinese than Thai?

Any thoughts on realistic age range (17th c vs later Ming/Qing vs even later)?

Is the layered paint (like the double lips) typical for these?

Does anything here suggest it’s a later reproduction vs genuinely old?

Any red flags I’m missing?

We love the piece regardless and aren’t looking to sell, but I’d like to better understand what it is before I move forward with conservation or appraisal.

Thanks for any insight, happy to provide more photos or details.