A polychrome stone carving of a sleeping luohan, Song dynasty, 12th century, China

This sculpture has a peaceful quality - the luohan, a spiritual practitioner and disciple of the Buddha (also known as an arhat) portrayed sleeping. His eyes are closed and the head leans to one side upon his hands that rest one on top of the other, on a raised support; this appears to grow organically from one corner, at the back of the base. The monk’s robes - painted in pigments of red, blue, black and green - are wrapped about him and flow over the pedestal on which he sits; this is pierced, and its lower half incised with an inscription.

Height: 46 cm

Provenance: Collection of a European noble family

Similar example: ‘Bildwerke Ost-Und Sudasiens aus der Sammlung Yi Yuan’ mit begleitendem text von Karl With, Basel 1924, Benno Schwabe & Co. Verlag, plate no. 62.