Expert’s note: The present lot depicts Vijraputra, one of the eighteen Luohan, who is also known as the ‘laughing lion luohan’ (Chinese: xiaoshi luohan) and is always accompanied by a Buddhist lion.

China, 17^th-18^th century. Finely carved as a reclining Luohan, leaning on a Buddhist lion while holding a small jar in his right and a flywhisk in his left. Dressed in loose robes open at the chest, the garment falling in folds over the bent knees and arms. His garments are embellished with floral sprays and geometrical designs at the hem painted in green, violet, red and blue. The round face has full lips forming a subtle smile framed by a stippled beard, flanked by long pendulous lobes suspending earrings. The opaque stone is of a creamy white tone suffused with pale gray, amber, and russet inclusions.

Provenance: From a French private collection.
Condition: Very good condition with expected old wear, some light surface scratches to the base, minor nicks, and small amounts of the pigment have worn away. The stone with natural inclusions and fissures, some of which may have developed into hairline cracks.

Weight: 350.7 g
Dimensions: Height 8.5 cm

The eighteen Luohan (arhats) are the original followers of Buddha, who were commanded to await the coming of the future Buddha, Maitreya. Believed by some to have attained enlightenment, they are also regarded as being freed from the cycle of reincarnation and act as guardians over those who have not.

Literature comparison:
Compare a related soapstone figure of a luohan, 10.8 cm high, dated to the 17th century, in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, accession number 2013.167. Compare the related soapstone figure of a luohan seated beside a similarly carved lion in the collection of the Palace Museum, Beijing, illustrated in Zhongguo meishu quanji, diaosu bian - 6 - Yuan Ming Qing diaosu, Beijing, 1988, pp. 145, pl. 157. Compare a related soapstone figure of luohan with a mythical beast, dated to the 17th century, illustrated by Gerard Tsang and Hugh Moss, Arts from the Scholar's Studio, Fung Ping Shan Museum, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 1986, pp. 161, cat. no. 135.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Related
Auction: Bonhams San Francisco, 20 June 2014, lot 6578
Price: USD 6,875 or approx. EUR 8,100 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A carved soapstone figure of a luohan, 17th/18th century
Expert remark: Compare the related pose, facial expression, pigments, and decoration of the robe. Note the size (9 cm).

Auction result comparison:
Type: Related
Auction: Sotheby’s London, 7 November 2012, lot 282
Estimate: GBP 6,000 or approx. EUR 7,900 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A carved soapstone figure of a luohan, 17th/18th century
Expert remark: Compare the related pose, facial expression, pigments, decoration of the robe, and size (9.2 cm).