A LARGE GILT-LACQUERED POLYCHROME WOOD FIGURE OF A LUOHAN 18th century The figure finely modelled seated, holding a sutra in each hand, wearing long loose-fitting patchwork robes decorated with scrolling designs, secured at the waist and falling in deep folds around the body, the face realistically rendered with an alert expression finely detailed with arched eyebrows, inset eyes and wrinkles, traces of gilt and polychrome designs remaining. 64cm (25in) high 注脚 Provenance: A European private collection Luohans are regarded as the original disciples of Buddha and sets of them, numbering from sixteen to five hundred, were enshrined in larger Buddhist temples. As a means of attaining merit, donors would commission individual images and dedicate the merit to deceased family members. Wealthier devotees could commission entire sets. Compare with a related polychrome gesso and carved wood figure of a luohan, Ming/Qing dynasty, which was sold at Sotheby's New York, 15 March 2017, lot 546.