A RARE SOAPSTONE FIGURE OF VIJRAPUTRA, AKA THE LAUGHING LION LUOHAN OR XIAOSHI LUOHAN, QING DYNASTY

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. However, the depiction of such playfulness between the figure and the beast is quite rare.

China, 17th-18th century. Well carved, the luohan seated in rajalilasana, holding with both hands a lion cub playfully tugging on his earring. He is wearing voluminous robes with neatly incised floral hems, all masterfully embellished with ink and polychrome pigments. The finely polished stone is of a creamy beige hue with deep orange and red shadings and veins as well as cloudy inclusions.


Provenance:
From the private collection of a gentleman in the United States.

Condition:
Very good condition with some old wear, rubbing and losses to pigment, the stone with natural inclusions fissures, some of which may have developed into small hairline cracks. Everything exactly as expected and commensurate with age.

Weight: 160.1 g
Dimensions: Height 8.6 cm

With a padded storage box. (2)


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 a related soapstone figure of a luohan with a lion cub by Zhou Bin, dated to the 17th century, at Sotheby’s Hong Kong, 3 April 2012, lot 136.


Auction result comparison:

Type: Related
Auction: Christie’s New York, 25 January 2007, lot 241
Price: GBP 11,400 or approx.
EUR 25,000
converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A Chinese creamy soapstone model of a luohan, 17th/18th century
Expert remark: Compare the related motif and manner of carving. Note the rockwork stand, coral and turquoise embellishments, and the size (11.4 cm).


Auction result comparison:

Type: Related
Auction: Sotheby’s New York, 18 March 2008, lot 203
Price: USD 20,000 or approx.
EUR 26,000
converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A fine soapstone 'luohan and lion cub' group, Qing dynasty, 18th century
Expert remark: Compare the closely related motif, with the lion also playfully tugging on the luohan’s earring, and related manner of carving. Note the deep red color.




清代皂石笑獅羅漢

中國，十七至十八世紀。羅漢由皂石雕製而成，色呈黃褐色，質地瑩潤，紋理細膩。羅漢身著僧衣，衣褶線條流暢，雙腿呈半跏趺坐，軀體微向左傾，雙手撫抱一獅，神態閒適。小獅踩踏羅漢手及肩上，用舌頭輕舔其左耳，羅漢額頭及眼尾皺紋深陷，弓眉突顴，雙眼微閉，嘴角含笑左翹，露出愉悅之情。刻劃自然得體，神情塑造尤其生動出色，極具巧思，具有絕佳的神韻風采。


來源：
美國紳士私人收藏。

品相：
狀況極好，有一些磨損和顏色損失，石頭帶有天然裂紋，其中一些可能發展成細小的裂紋。

重量：160.1 克
尺寸：高8.6 厘米

配有帶襯墊的儲物盒。(2)


文獻比較：

比較一件相近的十七世紀羅漢皂石，高10.8 厘米，收藏於大都會藝術博物館，館藏編號2013.167。比較一件相近的十七世紀壽山石雕「伏獅羅漢」像《古閩周彬尚均氏製》款，見香港蘇富比，2012年4月3日，lot 136。


拍賣結果比較：

形制：相近
拍賣：紐約佳士得，2007年1月25日， lot 241
價格：GBP 11,400（相當於今日
EUR 25,000
）
描述：十七至十八世紀羅漢奶油色皂石
專家評論：比較相近的主題和雕刻風格。請注意石座、珊瑚和綠松石鑲嵌，以及尺寸(11.4 厘米)。


拍賣結果比較：

形制：相近
拍賣：紐約蘇富比，2008年3月18日，lot 203
價格：USD 20,000（相當於今日
EUR 26,000
）
描述：十八世紀清代伏獅羅漢皂石
專家評論：比較非常相近的主題，獅子還頑皮地拉著羅漢的耳環，以及相近的雕刻風格。請注意深紅顏色。