Featured Chinese Gilded Iron Head of Guanyin (2 heads are better than one)

I know this is not "Tribal", but it seems to be the forum where Asian arts often end up. That said....

I believe this is Guanyin, but you may correct me. This type does not seem to be as common as the Thai Buddha head on my other post, but I wanted to ask if anyone (@Any Jewelry, et al) knows if heads such as this are actually taken from a statue, or if they are produced this way for sale. The head is about 5 3/4" / 14.5 cm high. Heavy, and magnetic, so definitely iron. Thanks for your info and input.

 

Yes, it is Guanyin. Even though there are no attributes, the crown with the Amithaba Buddha in the centre is a sign. If it is real, the face and other parts of the body would have been gilded as the face and ear are now, the hair, clothing and jewellery wouldn't.

I am sorry, that is all I can say about it. I have some knowledge of the iconography, but distinguishing genuine from the amazingly good fakes the Chinese have been producing over the last few decades is beyond me. You would need a true expert for that.
If it is real, it looks like there would have been a body as well. They could have been separated during the Cultural Revolution, but that is just a guess.

 

Thank you, @Any Jewelry. I did not know the Cultural Revolution included iconoclastic effects.

 

Yes, it should have been called the Anti-Cultural Revolution.