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China. Finely carved seated in a relaxed pose with the right hand resting on the raised right knee, holding a small hoop in his left hand which is pulled by a young lion that nestles at his feet. He is dressed in loose robes neatly incised with a hatched pattern at the hems accentuated in gilt and fine scrollwork to the back.
The face with a subtle smile framed by dimples below a calm gaze. The back of the robe with a gilt-incised two-character inscription. The opaque stone of a creamy beige color transitioning to amber yellow, with pale gray veins and cloudy white inclusions.
The base of petaled form, carved from another soapstone of creamy white hue with vermillion-red patches and thin russet veins, and pierced around the sides to simulate rockwork, the underside neatly gilt-incised with the artist’s signature. (2)
Inscriptions: To the back of the robe, ‘Shangjun’. To the base, signed ‘Gumin Zhou Bin fanggu’ (‘Antiquarian work by Zhou Bin of ancient Min [modern-day Fuzhou]’).
Provenance: P. C. Lu & Sons, Hong Kong (label to base), by the early 2000s. The private collection of Jules Speelman, London, acquired from the above. P. C. Lu was one of Hong Kong’s foremost dealers in Chinese art during the second half of the 20th century. Established from modest beginnings as a family business, the firm later operated prominent galleries under the name P. C. Lu & Sons in the Peninsula and Mandarin hotels, becoming a trusted destination for international collectors visiting Hong Kong. Works handled by P. C. Lu are today preserved in major private and institutional collections, including the British Museum, while the firm’s distinguished name frequently appears in the provenance of important Chinese works of art. Jules Speelman is a world-leading dealer and collector of East Asian art with 60 years of experience. In 1964 he joined his late father, Alfred, in the family business which already stretched back three generations to 19th century Holland and expanded into England around the turn of the century. Originally, A & J Speelman dealt with antiques, from European ceramics, silver, tapestries, and furniture to Chinese porcelain, and works of art. With his father, Jules gradually shifted the focus towards Asia and under Jules Speelman's skilled direction, A & J Speelman is now considered amongst the foremost dealers in Asian antiques, with a particular emphasis on figurative sculpture and works of art from the past 2000 years.
Condition: Very good condition with minor wear, minor rubbing to the gilt, few light scratches to the base and underneath the figure, the pegs with traces of adhesive.
Weight: 704 g
Dimensions: Height 11.8 cm
Zhou Bin, style name Shangjun, was one of the most celebrated and accomplished soapstone carvers of the seventeenth century. A native of Zhangzhou in Fujian province, the region famed for its Shoushan soapstone, he is thought to have studied under the renowned carver Yang Yuxuan. Although little is recorded of his life and his precise dates remain unknown, Zhou is generally believed to have been active during the Kangxi period. His figural carvings were admired for their strong sculptural quality, but he was particularly esteemed among contemporary scholar-officials for his soapstone seals. In carving landscapes, flowers, pines, and bamboo, he is said to have applied the painterly principle of xieyi (‘writing the idea’), seeking to capture the spirit of his subject rather than merely its outward appearance. His works remained highly prized throughout the Qing dynasty.
Vajraputra is one of the eighteen luohans, representative of freedom from inhibition and playfulness. He is often portrayed with a Buddhist lion cub at the side. Vajraputra literally translates as 'man of cats'. Legend has it that Vajraputra was a lion hunter before converting to Buddhism. Upon attaining enlightenment, a lion cub approached him playfully, appeared to be showing gratitute for renouncing his sinful ways of killing lions. Vajraputra is therefore always depicted inseparable from the little lion cub.
Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Sotheby’s Hong Kong, 3 April 2012, lot 136
Price: HKD 3,020,000 or approx. EUR 470,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A soapstone figure of a lohan with a lion cub, by Zhou Bin, 17th century
Expert remark: Compare the closely related subject, manner of carving, Zhou Bin signature, and gilt highlights.
Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Sotheby’s New York, 17 March 2021, lot 264
Price: USD 126,000 or approx. EUR 136,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A soapstone figure of a luohan, attributed to Zhou Bin, 17th/18th century
Expert remark: Compare the closely related subject, manner of carving, and Shangjun signature. Note the related size (8.3 cm).
Auction result comparison:
Type: Related
Auction: Sotheby’s New York, 11 September 2019, lot 678
Price: USD 150,000 or approx. EUR 169,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: An exceptional soapstone figure of a luohan by Zhou Bin, Qing dynasty, 17th-18th century
Expert remark: Compare the closely related subject, manner of carving, Zhou Bin signature, and size (11.1 cm).
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