A large lacquered wood head of a luohan


Ming Dynasty The head well carved with fleshy and expressive features, the wrinkled forehead characterised by a protuberant urna, the face with a powerful expression, set with thick and arched eyebrows above a prominent nose, the taut rounded cheeks flanked by long pendulous ears. 34.2cm (13 1/2in) high.
|明 漆木羅漢頭像According to traditional Buddhist beliefs, the luohan is a disciple who has attained enlightenment through intense personal practices.Compare with a similar wood head of a luohan, Ming dynasty, included in the collection of the Asian Art Museum, San Francisco (acc.no.B60S17). See a related polychrome carved wood figure of a luohan, Ming dynasty, with a similarly carved head as the present lot, which was sold at Sotheby's New York, 15 March 2017, lot 546.