| Boxwood carving with a rich patina, some original black lacquer remaining, of a lohan his body covered with a long flowing robe down to his bare feet, his long hair flowing over his neck and parts of his robe, his two hands in a meditative expression, his face serene. 17/18th C. 6 in high. Minor losses
Provenance: Cuban expatriate collection taken from Cuba prior to 1961
With the Portuguese occupation of Macao in the 17th C Chinese carvers began to adapt traditional guanyin and lohan carvings to suit the growing taste of the European market for figures of the Virgin Mary and Christ - slightly changing the faces and poses of guanyin holding a baby and lohans so that they gave a more Christian appearance. Ivory was the usual medium, but wood was also used. This carving, dating from the 17th/18th C, is a good example. While the figure retains its Chinese face and features the flow of the robes and the position of the arms could be read as an effort to create a more Christ-like image. Carvings of this type are rare. |
