Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 19

Large Terracotta Head of Luohan on Wood Stand from Vietnam

About the Item

A large and heavy fired clay (terracotta) head of an Arhat (also known as Luohan in Chinese). The followers of Buddha who achieved the enlightenment, statues of Arhats are always found in the Buddhist temple, often surrounding the Buddha. The terracotta head is molded with facial features of large, rounded eyes, widely open laughing mouth showing exposing the teeth and long earlobes. The details were painted on using black, red and green pigments. Overall, it displays a humorous and exaggerated expression and exudes a strong folky appeal. We believe that the piece was mostly likely from Northern Vietnam based on the styling. Similar terracotta statues are found in village temples such as the famous Nom Pagoda in Dai Dong commune outside of Hanoi.
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 18.5 in (46.99 cm)Width: 8 in (20.32 cm)Depth: 8 in (20.32 cm)
  • Style:
    Other (Of the Period)
  • Materials and Techniques:
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    18-19th century
  • Condition:
    Wear consistent with age and use. Minor losses. Small losses and scrapes scattered throughout the surface as shown, keeping with the nature of the material. Eyes might have had inlays but not present. The paint may have been renewed at some point.
  • Seller Location:
    Atlanta, GA
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU945035447292

More From This Seller

View All
Sculpted Terracotta Gandhara Head
Located in Atlanta, GA
A lifesize terracotta head in Gandhara style. Based on the style, it is likely from Kushan period Northern India, circa 4th-6th century. The expres...
Category

Antique 15th Century and Earlier Indian Other Antiquities

Materials

Terracotta, Wood

Large Bronze Buddha Head with Stand Thailand
Located in Atlanta, GA
A impressive bronze Buddha head fragment displayed on wood stand circa late 19th century. The Buddha was cast in the early "U Thong" style that flourished between the 12-13rd century A.D in Central Thailand. The Buddha iconography of that period is exemplified by the influence from Mon and Khmer kingdom, featuring a more square face and a characteristic small band between the hairline and the forehead. This large Buddha head...
Category

Antique 19th Century Thai Other Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Bronze

Stone Buddha Head Chinese Qi Dynasty on Custom Stand
Located in Atlanta, GA
Carved out of a single block of grayish brown stone (likely granite type), this Buddha head represents Northern Qi style in China (550-577AD) and likely of the period. The Northern Q...
Category

Antique 15th Century and Earlier Chinese Archaistic Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Marble

Indian Terracotta Sculpted Head Gupta Period
Located in Atlanta, GA
A fragment of Terracotta statue displayed on wood block stand from ancient Indian continent dated to the Gupta period (4th-6th century). The head of the...
Category

Antique 15th Century and Earlier Indian Archaistic Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Terracotta, Wood

Chinese Chicken Blood Stone Carving of Bodhidharma on Wood Stand
Located in Atlanta, GA
A small chicken blood stone carving from China circa early 20th century, possibly early (late Qing to early Republic period). It depicts an aged Bo...
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Stone

Chinese Scholar Stone Taihu Rock on Wood Stand
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Chinese scholar stone in an upright mushroom form displayed on a custom wood stand. Wonderful and well-balanced, the ocher and cream color ston...
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Scholar's Objects

Materials

Stone

You May Also Like

Pair of Wood Figures of a Luohan
Located in New York, NY
Well carved standing monks, wearing gracefully draped priests robes, traces of polychrome.
Category

Antique 19th Century Sculptures and Carvings

Large Serene Asian Wood Carved Buddha Head Bust on Display Stand
Located in Studio City, CA
A wonderful hand carved head/bust of Buddha on display stand with a beautiful patina and faded polychrome pigmentation. The Buddha's face reflects a very serene, contented expressio...
Category

20th Century Asian Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Wood

Late 19th Century Chinese Glazed Terracotta Seated Luohan Figure
Located in Hudson, NY
This hand-shaped and incised terracotta Luohan or seated figure of a scholar was made in China at the end of the imperial dynastic period circa 1900. Luohan or a term for an Arhat who are the historical disciples of the Buddha. These figures have been seen throughout Buddhistic artist tradition for as long as the Buddhas religious teachings have existed. The figure seated on a rock rests...
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Chinese Qing Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Terracotta, Wood

Chinese Painted Stucco Head of a Luohan, Song Dynasty, 11th Century, China
Located in Austin, TX
A remarkable Chinese life sized painted stucco head of a luohan, Song, Liao or Jin Dynasty, circa 11th century, China. The amazingly life-like figure depicts a luohan (sometime spelled lohan), also known as an arhat, one of the original disciples of the Buddha. The elderly man has been molded in stucco with inset glass eyes and painted with idealized, if slightly exaggerated features. The unidentified luohan sports a bald, or perhaps shaved, domed head above a bulging forehead, symbolizing his vast wisdom. The wrinkles in his furrowed brow, and creases around his eyes add to his realism. The learned man stares out wisely from deep set, heavily lidded inlaid glass eyes that catch the light. The luohan has high cheekbones and a prominent jawline. His lips full and pursed as if about to speak. The corners of his mouth turned up ever so slightly in a faint smile, causing his gaunt cheeks to dimple charismatically. A series of dots above the upper lip indicate he may originally have sported a mustache of real hair. This life sized head with extremely realistic features fits into a very narrow time frame of Chinese Buddhist art. Perhaps the most recognized group of large, finely molded Chinese luohan...
Category

Antique 15th Century and Earlier Chinese Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Glass, Stucco

Large Hand Painted Polychrome Asian Buddha Head Bust on Stand
Located in Studio City, CA
A large polychrome Buddha bust on an acrylic base. Stunning piece, wonderfully executed. From a larger collection of Asian artifacts and religious wo...
Category

20th Century Asian Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Wood, Paint

Large terracotta Buddha head, Burma, Shan States, late 18th Century
Located in PARIS, FR
Large Buddha head in gilt-leaf terracotta with trace of red polychromy. The Buddha must have been between 2.10m and 2.40m tall (if standing). Headdressed with fine curls and Usnisha ...
Category

Antique Late 18th Century Burmese Other Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Terracotta

Recently Viewed

View All