Ming Dynasty Sancai Glazed Arhat

This bust is sculpted in the form of an Arhat, a Buddhist devotee who has attained enlightenment, also called a “Luohan.” The eighteen original Arhat are the personal disciples of Buddha and the guardians of Buddhist adherents. Each is represented with a unique disposition, posture, and distinctive symbol.

This exquisitely formed monumental ceramic Arhat dates to the Ming dynasty (1368-1644) and has likely been separated from its original full body sculpture. Coated with green, amber, and cream-colored glazes, the Arhat is ornamented in the sancai, or three-color, manner, an ancient technique used as early as the Tang dynasty (618–907). Oxidation of the pigments over the centuries has lent a unique effect to the once-vibrant glazes, now richly aged with a crazed texture.