A Tibetan bronze figure of Avalokiteshvara. 17th century
A Tibetan bronze figure of Avalokiteshvara, with his main hands in namaskara mudra, the other two hands holding mala and lotus. The face painted with cold gilt and the hair with blue colour. The back of the head missing. The figure was probably mounted on a base. Bottom unsealed. 17th century.
Height 14.5 cm
Private collection Johan (1925-2003) and Ursula Strebel
Johann Strebel was born in Hamburg in February 1925, the son of Dr. Otto Strebel, director of the Hemmoor cement factory. In 1951 the qualified cement retailer married Ursula Oschewski (b. 1.9.1925), daughter of the goldsmith Kurt Olschewski who ran a jewellery business under the same name in Wiesbaden. In 1954 the jewellery business in Wilhelmstrasse changed its name to Strebel-Olschewski.
By procuring precious stones for the jeweler's shop, Johann and Ulla Strebel developed a fascination for Asian cultures and acquired valuable works of art on their many travels throughout Asia between 1955 and 1980, a time when travel in these countries was particularly arduous and uncomfortable.
Asian works of art were sold alongside the jewellery in the shop, but the couple also built up a private collection, with a wide cultural interest ranging from Tibet through South East Asia to Japan.