China, 17^th to early 18^th century. Finely carved, seated with his right hand resting on his raised knee, the left hand supported by an armrest above a lion head issuing a three-clawed foot, dressed in loose-fitting robes opening at the chest, his balding head detailed with furrowed brows above a pointed nose and delicately curled facial hair.

Inscriptions: To the base, ‘Song Ji Zao’.

Provenance: From the collection of Dr. Aurel Gonda, acquired in Shanghai circa 1937-1947, and thence by descent to the present owner. Dr. Aurel Gonda (1885-1964) was an Austro-Hungarian physician who served as a councilman and health official in Vienna. A street in Inzersdorf, in the 23^rd district of Vienna, is named after him. He was the brother of architect Charles Henry Gonda, who was active in Shanghai between the 1920s and 1940s. As C. H. Gonda rose to be a renowned architect, he ran in the same circles as foreign elites, including Shanghai's top oligarch Victor Sassoon. In 1938, Aurel Gonda and his family escaped fascist Vienna and joined C. H. Gonda in Shanghai. After the Communist victory in China in 1949, the brothers and their families left for the US and settled in Lakewood, New Jersey.
Condition: Very good condition with some old wear, few minuscule chips to the edge of the robe, expected minor age cracks, fine warm patina.

Weight: 410 g
Dimensions: Height 15.4 cm

Expert’s note: The present figure most likely depicts the eighth luohan Vijraputra, known in China as Xiaoshi Luohan (Laughing Lion Luohan), as evidenced by the lion head below the armrest. Vijraputra is commonly depicted with a lion.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Related
Auction: Sotheby’s Hong Kong, 2 May 2014, lot 21
Price: HKD 275,000 or approx. EUR 41,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A Carved Wood Seated Luohan Qing Dynasty, 18th / 19th Century

Auction result comparison:
Type: Related
Auction: Sotheby’s Hong Kong, 2 May 2005, lot 662
Estimate: HKD 400,000 or approx. EUR 76,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A finely carved boxwood figure of a luohan, Qing dynasty, 18^th century



明末清初硬木羅漢坐像
中國，十七世紀末至十八世紀初。羅漢坐像，右手托膝，左手靠在獅子頭上，身著寬大開襟長袍，禿頂，眉頭微皺，鼻子高挺，頭髮捲曲。

款識: 松記造。

來源：Dr. Aurel Gonda收藏，約於1937-1947年間購於上海，保存在同一家族至今。Dr. Aurel Gonda (1885-1964) 曾是來自奧匈帝國的醫生，曾在維也納擔任議員和衛生部官員。維也納第 23 區 Inzersdorf 的一條街道以他的名字命名。他的兄弟Charles Henry Gonda 曾是一位建築師，在 1920 年代至 40 年代活躍於上海。隨著 C. H. Gonda 成為著名建築師，他與外國精英打交道，其中包括上海的頂級寡頭Victor Sassoon。1938 年，Aurel Gonda 和他的家人逃離了法西斯維也納，並在上海與 C. H. Gonda 會合。1949 年共產黨在中國取得勝利後，兄弟倆和他們的家人前往美國，定居在新澤西州萊克伍德。
品相：狀況極好，一些磨損，長袍邊緣輕微小磕損，輕微老化裂紋，包漿良好。

重量：410 克
尺寸：高 15.4 厘米

專家注釋: 本像描繪的極有可能是是第八羅漢金剛菩薩，在中國被稱為笑獅羅漢，從扶手下方的獅子頭可以看出。

拍賣結果比較：
形制：相近
拍賣：香港蘇富比，2014年5月2日，lot 21
價格：HKD 275,000（相當於今日EUR 41,000）
描述：清十八 / 十九世紀木雕羅漢苦行坐像

拍賣結果比較：
形制：相近
拍賣：香港蘇富比，2005年5月2日，lot 662
估價：HKD 400,000（相當於今日EUR 76,500）
描述：清十八世紀木雕羅漢像