- 136
A PALE CELADON JADE FIGURE OF A LUOHAN QING DYNASTY, 18TH CENTURY |
Estimate
900,000 - 1,200,000 HKD
bidding is closed
Description
- with stand 27.6 cm, 10 7/8 in.
depicted standing with the left foot striding forward and the head gently turned to the left, the figure portrayed with thick eyebrows below a wrinkled forehead, all above the right hand holding a leafy evergreen spray issuing a cluster of berries and the left supporting a long ruyi sceptre decorated with a shou medallion, further rendered clad in loose robes cascading in voluminous folds, the reverse with a large hat, affixed to the original stand, the stone of a very pale celadon colour with attractive light russet patches
Condition
The Luohan is in very good condition, with only minute nibbling/light bruising along the fragile extremities and natural flaws to the stone, predominantly on the lower part.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."
Catalogue Note
This superbly carved luohan figure is rendered with an endearing expression and smile. His left hand holds a ruyi sceptre while his right hand carries a branch of evergreen. Heartfelt wishes for longevity are evident through the auspicious ruyi sceptre and Chinese evergreen.
Initially used as a scratcher, the ruyi sceptre was associated with Buddhism. The shape of lingzhi fungus was later adapted as the head of the sceptre as a metaphor for blessings and wishes of prolonged life. Ruyi motifs frequently appear in Buddhist drawings and sculptures, with examples of two Yuan paintings featuring the twelfth and sixteenth arhats from the National Palace Museum, Taipei, published in Gugong shuhua tulu [Illustrated Catalog of Chinese Painting in the National Palace Museum], vol. 5, pp. 325-326, 333-334, or in Xu Yang's paintings of arhats from the Qing dynasty, vol. 13, and pp. 325-326, 339-340. Chinese evergreen is symbolic of auspiciousness because it flourishes through the four seasons. Due to its resilient character against adversity, evergreen was adored by literati after the mid-Ming period. Pots of evergreen were placed on tables to cultivate a graceful interior. In the Qing dynasty, it must have been favourable to present a figure like this as a gift to a Buddhist believer accompanied by good wishes for longevity.
There are two known examples of jade luohan holding evergreen in front of their chest, in the Palace Museum, Beijing: including a smaller celadon Khotan jade figure dated to the mid-Qing dynasty (18 cm), illustrated in Zhongguo Yuqi Quanji [Complete Collection of Chinese Jades], Hebei, 2005, no. 335; and a larger celadon jade standing figure (23.7 cm), also with a ruyi sceptre in the left hand and holding a sprig of evergreen on the right, illustrated in The Complete Collections of Treasures of the Palace Museum. Jadeware (III), Hong Kong, 1995, pl. 108. Another example of a celadon jade luohan figure from a British collection (16.5 cm), with ruyi sceptre in the left hand and evergreen in the right, was recently sold at Bonhams Hong Kong, 28th May 2019, lot 152.
See also jade figures carved in the round of comparable sizes. A jade figure of Shoulao with a boy and a deer from the Avery Brundage collection in the Asian Art Museum, San Francesco (20.3 cm), is included in Magic, Art, and Order: Jade in Chinese Culture, Palm Springs Desert Museum, Palm Springs, 1990, cat. no. 134. A large white jade 'Shoulao and child' group also from the collection of Sir Quo-wei Lee (22.5 cm), was sold in these rooms, 3rd October 2018, lot 131.
Initially used as a scratcher, the ruyi sceptre was associated with Buddhism. The shape of lingzhi fungus was later adapted as the head of the sceptre as a metaphor for blessings and wishes of prolonged life. Ruyi motifs frequently appear in Buddhist drawings and sculptures, with examples of two Yuan paintings featuring the twelfth and sixteenth arhats from the National Palace Museum, Taipei, published in Gugong shuhua tulu [Illustrated Catalog of Chinese Painting in the National Palace Museum], vol. 5, pp. 325-326, 333-334, or in Xu Yang's paintings of arhats from the Qing dynasty, vol. 13, and pp. 325-326, 339-340. Chinese evergreen is symbolic of auspiciousness because it flourishes through the four seasons. Due to its resilient character against adversity, evergreen was adored by literati after the mid-Ming period. Pots of evergreen were placed on tables to cultivate a graceful interior. In the Qing dynasty, it must have been favourable to present a figure like this as a gift to a Buddhist believer accompanied by good wishes for longevity.
There are two known examples of jade luohan holding evergreen in front of their chest, in the Palace Museum, Beijing: including a smaller celadon Khotan jade figure dated to the mid-Qing dynasty (18 cm), illustrated in Zhongguo Yuqi Quanji [Complete Collection of Chinese Jades], Hebei, 2005, no. 335; and a larger celadon jade standing figure (23.7 cm), also with a ruyi sceptre in the left hand and holding a sprig of evergreen on the right, illustrated in The Complete Collections of Treasures of the Palace Museum. Jadeware (III), Hong Kong, 1995, pl. 108. Another example of a celadon jade luohan figure from a British collection (16.5 cm), with ruyi sceptre in the left hand and evergreen in the right, was recently sold at Bonhams Hong Kong, 28th May 2019, lot 152.
See also jade figures carved in the round of comparable sizes. A jade figure of Shoulao with a boy and a deer from the Avery Brundage collection in the Asian Art Museum, San Francesco (20.3 cm), is included in Magic, Art, and Order: Jade in Chinese Culture, Palm Springs Desert Museum, Palm Springs, 1990, cat. no. 134. A large white jade 'Shoulao and child' group also from the collection of Sir Quo-wei Lee (22.5 cm), was sold in these rooms, 3rd October 2018, lot 131.