13th Dec, 2023 13:00
Fine Asian Art Holiday Sale
172
A LACQUERED WOOD FIGURE OF A RAKAN (ARHAT)
Sold for €910
including Buyer's Premium
Japan, c. 1700, Edo period (1615-1868)
The rakan seated in dhyanasana on a rectangular base, which is lacquered with an inscription to the interior. His left hand is lowered above his lap and holding a large leaf with incised veins. He is dressed in loose-fitting robes falling in graceful folds below the legs as if draped over an edge and finely decorated with dragons, a phoenix, and a butterfly as well as foliate designs, and gold-lacquered inscription of a Buddhist votive mantra. His face with a serene expression marked by heavy-lidded eyes inlaid with reverse-painted crystal, thick arched brows, full lips forming a subtle smile, and long pendulous earlobes.
HEIGHT 33 cm
Condition: Good condition with some wear, flaking and minor losses to lacquer, expected age cracks, minor losses, small nicks, light surface scratches.
Provenance: From an old French private estate, found in an apartment in Paris’ sixteenth arrondissement.
According to Buddhist scripture, arhats (rakan) are protectors of the Dharma who also use assorted magical powers to assist the faithful. They were frequently depicted in groups of eight, sixteen, eighteen, twenty-eight, or five hundred.
As Buddha’s apostles, arhats were first mentioned as sixteen in the Mahayanavataraka which was translated into Chinese in AD 437 and later also into Japanese. A full transcript of these sixteen names was given in AD 653 by the pilgrim monk Xuan Zang with the additional two that were probably adopted by the end of the 10th century, these being the Arhats who tamed the Dragon and the Tiger representing Eastern and Western directions respectively.
Auction comparison:
Compare a related, yet larger, lacquered wood figure of a rakan at Zacke, Fine Japanese Art, 4 June 2021, Vienna, lot 126 (sold for 101,120 EUR).
Japan, c. 1700, Edo period (1615-1868)
The rakan seated in dhyanasana on a rectangular base, which is lacquered with an inscription to the interior. His left hand is lowered above his lap and holding a large leaf with incised veins. He is dressed in loose-fitting robes falling in graceful folds below the legs as if draped over an edge and finely decorated with dragons, a phoenix, and a butterfly as well as foliate designs, and gold-lacquered inscription of a Buddhist votive mantra. His face with a serene expression marked by heavy-lidded eyes inlaid with reverse-painted crystal, thick arched brows, full lips forming a subtle smile, and long pendulous earlobes.
HEIGHT 33 cm
Condition: Good condition with some wear, flaking and minor losses to lacquer, expected age cracks, minor losses, small nicks, light surface scratches.
Provenance: From an old French private estate, found in an apartment in Paris’ sixteenth arrondissement.
According to Buddhist scripture, arhats (rakan) are protectors of the Dharma who also use assorted magical powers to assist the faithful. They were frequently depicted in groups of eight, sixteen, eighteen, twenty-eight, or five hundred.
As Buddha’s apostles, arhats were first mentioned as sixteen in the Mahayanavataraka which was translated into Chinese in AD 437 and later also into Japanese. A full transcript of these sixteen names was given in AD 653 by the pilgrim monk Xuan Zang with the additional two that were probably adopted by the end of the 10th century, these being the Arhats who tamed the Dragon and the Tiger representing Eastern and Western directions respectively.
Auction comparison:
Compare a related, yet larger, lacquered wood figure of a rakan at Zacke, Fine Japanese Art, 4 June 2021, Vienna, lot 126 (sold for 101,120 EUR).
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