明成化二十三年 鑄鐵伏虎羅漢坐像

銘文：
直隸直定府定州西應縣在坊社東街居住信士
男善人李四
女善人靳氏同供發心造羅漢一尊送主化莊開花寺
發心僧人義和善慶仁亮展讓
成化二十三年九月初一日造

紐約蘇富比，1974年10月17或18日，拍品編號320

紐約佳士得，2004年3月24日，拍品編號87

三藩市邦瀚斯，2007年6月18日，拍品編號6223

金申，《中國歷代紀年佛像圖典》，北京，1995年，圖版325

There are losses to the paint overall. There is a chip to the front of the robe, and a crack to the back running through the inscription. Both shoulders with casting flaws.
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.
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The inscription may be translated as: Male devotee Li Si and female devotee nee Jin, who reside at the street to the east of the earth god shrine in West Ying district in Dingzhou county, Zhiding prefecture, Zhili province, made a vow to have a luohan  image made for the Kaihua Temple of Zhuhua village. Joining them in this vow are monks Yihe, Shanqing and Zhanrang.  Made on the first day of the ninth month during the 23rd year of the reign of Chenghua.

This sculpture appears to belong to a set of figures made for the Kaihua temple in 1487 which were commissioned by wealthy members of the community; a figure of Buddha possibly made for the same temple, with a similar inscription naming its donor as Miao Yuan, was sold in these rooms, 23rd September 1997, lot 170; and another commissioned by Wangcheng Yu, was sold at Christie’s London, 13th December 1976, lot 4. Compare also a cast-iron figure of this type of a luohan, dated 1482, sold in these rooms, 20th March 1976, lot 4; and another dated to 1501, sold at Christie’s London, 6th November 2007, lot 117.