The Arhat Kalika Gilt copper alloy with polychrome Tibeto-Chinese, Qianlong period (1735-1796)

Kalika seated in a position of ease on an incised double cushion throne draped with a stylized rug, his left leg resting on his right knee, his finely-cast sandal placed on the side. His right hand is in sharanagamanamudra, the gesture of giving refuge; his left hand in karanamudra, the gesture which removes obstacles. Wearing a sanghati leaving his right shoulder bare, his gaunt face with intense expression, a narrow mouth, heavy-lidded eyes, arched eyebrows and incised wrinkles on his forehead, his receding hair with blue pigment.

Arhats such as Kalika and Ajita are traditionally cast in a larger set of twenty three, depicting the eighteen enlightened disciples of Shakyamuni Buddha, guardians of the four directions and the Buddha himself. For comparable sculptures, see four arhats likely from the same series, gifted by Natacha Rambova, from the permanent collection of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, acc. 1963-155-7; 1963-155-8; 1963-155-9; 1963-155-10; see also two additional arhats from the same Rambova collection: Sotheby's, New York, 21 September 2007, lots 48-49.