This small sculpture of Kannon, a genderless Buddist bodhisattva, is worked from precious metals and enclosed in a small, rounded, dark stained, wooden case with curved double doors that open to reveal the figure. Incised in gold, on the doors, in vertical Japanese characters, is the phrase, “With benevolent eyes he looks at all living things, his blessing is like the sea immeasurable”. The golden statue of Kannon is seated cross legged on a footed, round, lotus blossom. The bodhisattva’s bare feet are positioned close together visible beneath the cloth draped on the figure. The left leg rests on the lotus, while the right knee is raised and supports Kannon’s right elbow. The fingers of the right hand are beneath their chin while the left hand is bent backwards pointing to the right. Kannon wears an elaborate headdress with a cone shaped central projection and an open gold circle behind their head. They gaze directly at the viewer with a broad smile. They wear a silver bindi in the middle of their forehead. A long black stem attached to Kannon’s gold belt ends in a large lotus blossom at the front of their chest.  Signed: Shoami Katsuyoshi