Page 194 - Bonhams May 16, 2019 London Asian Art

207 *
A FINE AND RARE WHITE JADE CARVING
OF VAJRAPUTRA AND LION
Possibly Yuan/Ming Dynasty
Exquisitely carved as the Eighth Luohan clad
in tunic and crowned with a diadem over his
tonsured and finely incised curly hair, holding
onto a rope tied to a tame lion, the mane
cascading over the neck and shoulders
flanking the knobbly spine reaching the bushy
tail, the haunches with flame-scrolls, pierced,
the stone of translucent white tone with minor
russet inclusions, box. 4.2cm (1 5/8in) long (2).

£6,000 - 8,000
CNY53,000 - 70,000
或元/明 白玉雕笑獅羅漢

Provenance: Durwin Tang Collection

來源：鄧德雍收藏

The present lot depicts Vajraputra, Xiaoshi
(‘the luohan who plays with a lion’ 笑獅羅漢).
Often this subject matter can be confused
with that of foreigners bringing tribute. In the
present lot superbly carved in a lustrous white
jade the luohan is holding onto a rope tied
to the joyful lion. Vajraputra was a lion hunter
before converting to Buddhism. After attaining
enlightenment, a little lion came playfully to his
side. The animal seemed to be grateful to him
for giving up the life of killing lions, sparing its
parents and brothers. Since then, Vajraputra and
207 the lion have become inseparable. The lion, with
its roar, symbolises the invincibility of Buddhism.

Compare with a related white jade carving of
a dancing foreigner and lion, Tang dynasty,
illustrated in the Compendium of Collections in
the Palace Museum: Jade 5 Tang, Song, Liao,
Jin and Yuan Dynasties, Beijing, 2011, p.34,
no.16. See also the hairstyle and diadem on
a pale green and russet jade figure of a
tribute-bearer, Tang/ Song dynasty, illustrated
by Wu Hung and B.Morgan, Chinese Jades
from the Mu-Fei Collection, Bluett & Sons
Ltd., London, 1990, no.41.

208 *
SIX JADE CARVINGS OF BOYS
Yuan Dynasty and later
Comprising a pale green jade ‘boys and drum’
group, 7cm (2 6/8in) long; a white jade carving
of a kneeling boy carrying a lantern and stalk of
grain over his shoulder, 4.5cm (1 3/4in) long; a
small white jade ‘boy’ seal, 3cm (1 2/8in) long;
a white and russet jade standing figure carrying
a lotus and ruyi sceptre, 8.5cm (3 3/8in) high; a
grey jade ‘boys’ group, 9cm (3 1/2in) long; and
a pale green jade standing boy, 6.6cm (2 5/8in)
high. (6).
£4,000 - 6,000
CNY35,000 - 53,000

元或更晚 玉雕童子六件

Provenance: Durwin Tang Collection

來源：鄧德雍收藏
208

For details of the charges payable in addition to the final Hammer Price of each Lot
192 | BONHAMS please refer to paragraphs 7 & 8 of the Notice to Bidders at the back of the catalogue.