The finely characterised features of the face, notably on the figure with his right hand raised, is characteristic of Chinese hardwood or ivory carving, rather than Fujian blanc-de-chine porcelain which has sometimes been suggested as a source,

The sixteen or eighteen Buddhist Lohans or ‘Arhats’ are patrons and guardians of the Buddha.

The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery, Stoke-on-Trent

A pair of similar figures, one with traces of gold decoration, is in the The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery, Stoke-on-Trent[1], and another pair was published by Jonathan Horne in 2003.[2] A single figure of the same model as the one with his right hand raised is in the Burnap Collection.[3]

Condition:
Figure with right hand raised; right arm neatly restuck
Figure with left hand raised: left arm broken in three places and restuck

Provenance:
The Stanley Goldfein Collection

References:

Edwards & Hampson 2005
Diana Edwards and Rodney Hampson, White Salt-glazed stoneware of the British Isles, (Antique Collectors Club, 2005), p 105 for a similar pair from the Potteries Museum and Art Gallery, Stoke on Trent

Horne 2003
Exhibition. Jonathan Horne, English Pottery and related works of art, 2023

Taggart 1967
Ross E Taggart, The Frank P. and Harriet C. Burnap Collection of English Pottery in the William Rockhill Nelson Gallery, (1967)

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[1] Edwards & Hampson 2005, p.105, pl. 73

[2] Horne 2003, no. 03/14

[3] Taggart 1967, p. 96, no. 339

SOLD