A PAINTED WOOD AND GESSO FIGURE OF A LUOHAN, MING DYNASTY China, 1368-1644. Powerfully carved, seated in a calm posture atop a rockwork base, his right hand clenched into a fist at the chest and the left resting on his knee, wearing loose-fitting robes draped over his left shoulder, revealing his emaciated ribcage, and decorated with raised floral designs in gesso. The serene face with heavy-lidded eyes, deep wrinkles, the mouth slightly open.

Provenance: Theodor Bohlken, Berlin, 1931. Georg L. Hartl, Bernried. A private collection in Salzburg, acquired from the above. Theodor Bohlken (1851-1954) was a noted dealer of Chinese works of art during the first half of the 20^th century. While he sold tea on the ground level of his large store, the three floors above displayed Buddhist sculpture ranging from the Wei to the Ming dynasty, Chinese ceramics from the Han to the late Qing period, and Japanese works of art. The clientele consisted of mostly private collectors who visited Berlin on business. Objects with a Bohlken provenance are found in the Museum of East Asian Art in Cologne and in the Museum of Asian Art in Berlin.
Published: Weltkunst, 15 February 1931, volume 5, no. 7, page 8 (together with two other luohans from a group of eight, all dated to the Song dynasty).
Condition: Overall good condition, commensurate with age, displaying remarkably well. Extensive wear, weathering, erosion, age cracks, losses, minor chips and old repairs. Various layers of lacquer from different periods, mostly flaked and worn off. With a fine, naturally grown patina and a good, unctuous feel overall, testimony of extensive handling over the centuries.

Weight: 6.1 kg
Dimensions: Height 57.7 cm

Auction result comparison: Compare a closely related polychrome wood figure of a seated luohan, 54 cm high, also dated to the Ming dynasty, at Sotheby’s New York in Informing The Eye Of The Collector: Chinese Ceramics And Works Of Art From J.T. Tai & Co. on 22 March 2011, lot 268, sold for USD 47,500.

明代彩繪木雕石膏羅漢坐像
中國，1368-1644年。精雕細刻，羅漢以從容的姿態坐在石座上，右手攥在胸前，左手搭在膝上，左肩披著寬鬆的天衣，袒右肩，露出嶙峋身體，石膏浮雕花卉紋。沉靜的臉龐，眼皮微垂，皺紋很深，嘴巴微微張開。

來源：柏林Theodor Bohlken收藏，1931年。德國Bernried 的Georg L. Hartl收藏，薩爾斯堡的私人收藏，購於上述收藏。Theodor Bohlken (1851-1954) 曾是 20 世紀上半葉著名的中國藝術品經銷商。他在他店裏的一層賣茶葉，上面三層陳列著從魏到明的佛教雕塑，從漢代到晚清的中國陶瓷，還有日本的藝術品。客戶主要是出差到柏林的私人收藏家。在科隆的東亞藝術博物館和柏林的亞洲藝術博物館中都有來自 Bohlken 的物品。
出版: Weltkunst（世界藝術）, 1931年2月15日，第5冊, 圖 7, 第 8頁 (與另外兩件來自宋代的羅漢像，一共為八羅漢)。
品相：整體狀況良好，與年齡相稱。 廣泛磨損、風化、侵蝕、老化裂縫、缺損、小碎屑和舊維修。不同時期的各種漆層，大多剝落和磨損。包漿自然細膩。

重量：6.1 公斤
尺寸：高57.7 厘米

拍賣結果比較：比較一件相近的彩繪木雕羅漢坐像，高 54 厘米，明代，見紐約蘇富比 Informing The Eye Of The Collector: Chinese Ceramics And Works Of Art From J.T. Tai & Co. 2011年3月22日 lot 268, 售價USD 47,500。