This is a depiction of a luohan in a rarely used material of cast iron, believed to have been created aroudn 1504 in the Ming dynasty. In portraying Luohans (holy monks), chinese sculptors enjoyed a certain freedom of expression. Conventions were not as strict as for the depiction of buddhas or bodhisattvas. Sculptors took delight in giving each luohan an individual expression, at times even approaching caricature.

Cast iron sculpture - very rare in the West before the 19th cenutry - was common in China from the eighth century onwards. The iron object was often embellished with a layer of gold lacquer.

This object is part of "Scan The World". Scan the World is a non-profit initiative introduced by MyMiniFactory, through which we are creating a digital archive of fully 3D printable sculptures, artworks and landmarks from across the globe for the public to access for free. Scan the World is an open source, community effort, if you have interesting items around you and would like to contribute, email stw@myminifactory.com to find out how you can help.