Asian Art II - 18th May 2022
Lot 704
A CHINESE SANDSTONE HEAD OF LOHAN TAMRA BHADRA
Estimate £800 - £1,200
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Description
A CHINESE SANDSTONE HEAD OF LOHAN TAMRA BHADRA
TANG DYNASTY
Carved as an old man with a preternaturally domed head, his earlobes extended and with a deeply furrowed brow, the serene face in deep meditation, his eyes and lips with traces of pigments, raised on a modern stand, 22cm.
Tamra Bhadra is usually designated as the sixth of the Eighteen Lohan or arhats and was said to have been appointed to Ceylon with a retinue of 900 other disciples. He was a cousin of Buddha Sakayamuni and is usually represented in meditative repose with his prayer beads.
Provenance: by repute, purchased from Christie's London.