Chinese Eye Agate - Lohan Carving

Banded teardrop with a ghostly face floating in its center like a bad dream.

This etched eye agate bead carved with a lohan is from China. Lohan is the Chinese term for arhat, a Buddhist disciple who has reached enlightenment, and groups of eighteen lohan are a familiar subject in Chinese art. Smooth, polished, teardrop-shaped piece with concentric dark grey and brown bands around the edge. At the middle, a pale translucent face with a thin beard is carved in low relief, with an open base end.

Layers of stripes and one very serious expression.