Ming Dynasty Wooden Painted Seated Arhat Statue Holding Sutra Scroll,14th-17th century Chinese wooden Buddhist sculpture

拍品描述

Dimensions:Overall Height 101cm(39.76in),Base Width 58cm(22.83in),14-17th century Ming wooden Buddhist carvingCondition & Provenance:The entire statue is carved from a single solid timber block, the figure, robes and integral base remain fully intact with no major breaks or large restorations. Fine natural wood cracks developed over centuries are inherent antique wood features, no fresh chips or splits. Original gilding survives on the face and hands, robe mineral pigments have faded naturally over time with layered aged texture, no modern repainting or overcoating. A built-in scripture cavity on the rear is original to the statue’s ancient construction. This artwork originates from the private collection of a senior Buddhist art collector based in Miami, Florida, USA, acquired from a reputable antique Buddhist gallery in Bangkok in 2018. Large-scale intact Ming wooden arhat figures are extremely scarce on the market, this tall statue with untouched scripture niche, surviving ancient paint and gilding stands as a benchmark example of Ming wooden religious sculpture.description:This monumental seated arhat sculpture is hand-carved from one solid hardwood block during China’s Ming Dynasty, crafted as a primary devotional statue for ancient temple worship. The arhat is bald with carved horizontal forehead wrinkles, half-lidded eyes conveying calm solemn meditation, rendered with realistic elderly facial features balancing serene monk temperament and dignified elder gravitas. The figure sits in relaxed open-legged posture with feet resting flat on the integrated base, right hand grasping a sutra scroll while the left rests gently atop the knee, a carved monk sash ornament draped over the shoulder with meticulous small-scale detailing. Layered cross-collar monastic robes feature dense, flowing carved drapery folds with varying carving depth to authentically depict the heavy weight and natural fall of cloth. The robes were originally coated with green, brown and vermilion mineral pigments, which have faded naturally over hundreds of years creating a textured, weathered antique patina. Matte original gilding remains fully preserved across the face, palms and feet, with no later added gold leaf repairs. A rectangular scripture niche is carved into the statue’s rear, a standard original feature of Ming temple statues designed to hold sacred sutras and blessing relics in antiquity. Robust, confident carving techniques define this piece, with dignified realistic forms that reflect the secularized artistic aesthetic popular throughout the Ming period. The surviving ancient mineral paint and gilding are remarkably well-preserved for a wooden sculpture of this large scale. It preserves complete physical evidence of Ming wood carving craftsmanship, ancient lacquer pigment techniques and traditional Buddhist consecration culture, holding immense academic value for religious art research. It is a top-tier collectible ideal for permanent museum display and high-end themed Buddhist sculpture collections.

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