Rare Longquan Celadon Glazed Figure of a Seated Lohan or Budai

5 1/8″ (13cm) W, 5″ (12.5cm) H 罕見龍泉青釉羅漢或弥勒佛坐像
Seated with feet extended and almost touching, the right hand grasping an edge of robe, the left cupped and holding a fruit or jewel, the stomach and chest exposed and the face with a wide smile and bald pate. Raised on a square flat table-style dais with chamfered corners, triangular feet with ruyi designs. The underside showing a cavity and unglazed area with the biscuit body fired to an orange – umber.
The fruit suggests that this is actually an image of Hvashang, the Chinese patron of the Sixteen Great elders, the sixteen original disciples of the Buddha. In Ming examples of the Hvashang / Heshang, he is often depicted holding a peach sometimes described as a citron or persimmon, the other hand with a rosary.
Fully glazed Longquan celadon images of the Ming dynasty would appear to be rather rare, with faces and hands often left unglazed, though a later Ming 16th century fully glazed Longquan figure of Budai can be seen in the 2014 catalogue of J. J Lally, New York, No 13, Ex Sotheby’s HK, 28NOV1979 L. 66. Another (late) Ming dynasty Longquan example of Budai can be found in Bonhams Knightsbridge sale 1NOV2022, Lot 360.