A fine carved soapstone figure of a Lohan sitting on a rock - Subinda

Description:

China, 18th cent.
H. 12,7 cm
Sitting on a rock with his right leg bent, holding a pagoda on his knee. Red-beige toned stone with finely engraved details of the robe, remnants of coloured setting.
Old and important German private collection, collected since the 1950s until 2007
The eighteen Luohan or Arhats are original followers of the Buddha who were commanded to wait for the coming of the future Buddha, Maitreya. Some believe that they have attained enlightenment. They are also considered liberated from the cycle of reincarnation and act as guardians over those who have not. The honourable Subinda was the last disciple of the Buddha. He raised the pagoda in his hands to memorialise the teachings of the Buddha and to inspire sentient beings to accumulate merit in order to attain Buddhahood. Minimal signs of age