IMPRESSIVE LOKAPALA WORLD GUARDIAN.
China. Ming dynasty (1368-1644).

Wood; carved; with gilding and lacquer. Adorned with a marvelous armor standing in sidestep with his right arm stretched to the back and the left raised with clenched fist. Because of the powerful stance and the pose of his right hand; which might have clenched a halberd; he might be the guardian of the North. In the expressive face the eyebrows and the beard are painted with ink and the beard was once additionally set in with real hair. His armor is decorated at the upper body with a three dimensional lion mask. The sweeping cloak emphasizes his body tension and movement; likewise the swinging; struck back wide sleeves.

At the back of the figure two sealed cavities are visible. A radiological investigation showed that they are connected and the upper; smaller one was opened before. In such cavities scrolls; smaller figures and other holy objects were placed; when the figure was consecrated. In the x-ray it got visible; that the figure is carved from one block of wood; except the head; which was worked separately and set in. Height 65cm; width ca. 63;5cm; depth ca. 25cm. Condition B. Left arm glued back.

Provenance:
-Private collection of a Rhenish captain of industry. Acquired in the 1980s/90s.
-Rhenish private collection.

Compare:
-A similar figure is located in the collection of the MET as Accession no 47.74.

For the x-ray pictures please contact us via e-mail: asia@van-ham.comArt trade; Van Ham.