A RARE CARVED SOAPSTONE FIGURE OF A SEATED LOHAN ATTRIBUTED...

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Hammer

£24,000

Fees

A RARE CARVED SOAPSTONE FIGURE OF A SEATED LOHAN
ATTRIBUTED TO YANG YUXUAN, KANGXI PERIOD (1662-1722)
拂尘罗汉寿山石雕玉璇款清康熙(1662-1722)
modelled seated wearing a long flowing robe with heavy folds, with incised and coral 'jewelled' hem, holding a scroll and a fly-whisk (Hossu). with serene expression and neatly rendered hair, the back incised with a two character signature Yu Xuan
5.5cm high

PROVENANCE: Acquired by the Hon. Mrs. Clive Behrens' son, Jack Behrens, in Asia prior to 1934.

NOTE: This figure comes from the same Private Family collection as lots 53 to 57 sold by Christie's London, 10th May 2016; For similar examples see Christie's Paris 10th Dec 2014, lot 215; Christie's London, 9 Nov, 2010, lot 96; Christie's Hong Kong, 27th Nov 2007, lot 1849.

This extraordinary Arhat Karika statue, known as Fuchen Luohan （拂尘罗汉), is a remarkable representation of the artistic mastery during the Late Ming to early Qing dynasty by artist Yang Yuxuan (杨玉璇).

Carved from soapstone, a material favored for its malleability and lustrous finish, the statue embodies the literati ideals of the period. The master artist, such as Yang Yuxuan, was revered for his ability to encapsulate both religious significance and aesthetic beauty within his works. The signature 'Yuxuan' mark on the statue is a testament to the authenticity and craftsmanship of the piece. This particular Luohan, depicted with a flying whisk, symbolizes the removal of obstacles and troubles, embodying the virtues of purity and compassion. Such statues are not only valuable for their historical and cultural significance but also for their spiritual symbolism, representing the enlightened disciples of the Buddha who have achieved a state of nirvana. The Fuchen Luohan, as the seventh of the eighteen Arhats, holds a special place in this revered group, and his portrayal in soapstone by a master such as Yang Yuxuan is a rare and exquisite find.

Yang Yuxuan, also known by the names Yang Ji, Xuan and Yu Rei, was an outstanding carver active during the mid-17th century. Yang came from Zhangpu in Fujian province, and lived most of his life in Fuzhou. In the District Gazetteer of the area compiled in the Kangxi period. His work was praised by one of his contemporaries, the Fujian official Zhou Lianggong, as follows: 'the excellence of his knife work is equivalent to that done by supernatural beings'. A description found in the district gazette of the Jianpu area of the Kangxi period states that ‘Yang Yuxuan is a capable carver of Shoushan stone. All his figures, birds and animals and his vessels are exquisite in the extreme. Collectors compete to engage him.’ Yang's repertoire included seal finials, figures, birds, animals and vessels.

Exquisite skill of carving

He is known for the delicate and intricate manner of carving and the carving technique known as bo yi (intentionally thin) is said to have been pioneered by him. The bo yi is a light surface carving where the artists cut the stone into blocks and only lightly carve the surface of the stone in order to preserve as much of the original material as possible. Although the carving remains 'skin-deep', the design can be very elaborate. Yang Yuxuan was a prolific carver but only a very small number of his works are signed. Traditionally, while literary artists, such as poets, writers and calligraphers, were highly venerated and were expected to sign their work, craftsmen such as Yang would generally not have carved their signature on a piece unless it was of particular importance.

Examples of Yang Yuxuan’s signed works are preserved in the Palace Museum, Beijing, suggesting that he was either given specific commissions by the Court, or that his works came to the attention of the Imperial family, either through tributes or gifts.

Example in the museum collection
A tianhuang figure of Pindola in the Palace Museum, Beijing (fig. 1), illustrated in ‘Dictionary of selected Chinese relics: gold, silver, jade and stone’ Shanghai, 1996, no. 241.

For another example of a signed work by Yang Yuxuan preserved in the Palace Museum, Beijing, see a soapstone figure of Avalokiteshvara illustrated in Yang Boda, ‘The complete series on Chinese Art. Sculpture’ Beijing, 1988, vol. 6: Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties, p. 143, pl. 154, and, pp. 44-45.
For other signed figures of luohan by Yang Yuxuan, originally in the Spencer Churchill collection, Northwick Park, included in the Oriental Ceramic Society of Hong Kong exhibition Arts from the Scholar's Studio, Fung Ping Shan Museum, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 1986, cat. no. 45 (fig. 2) .

The same mark can be seen on the back of a soapstone figure of a seated luohan illustrated in Between Heaven and Earth, Sydney L. Moss Ltd., London, 1988, no. 64, which is dated to the 17th century.

Examples sold at auction:
A soapstone figure of seated Luohan sold in Christie’s Hong Kong,27 Nov 2007, lot 1849

A luohan from the Conner Prairie Museum, Indiana, sold at Bonhams Hong Kong, 25th May 2011, lot 366

Another luohan from the Q collection, sold at Bonhams Hong Kong, 25th May 2011, lot 273.

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