each standing with their feet apart, the arms raised in animated gestures, wearing armour over loose robes, tied at the waist with an animal mask clasp, with a scarf billowing over the shoulders, the face with an fierce expression below a five-petalled crown

The figure illustrated to the left in catalogue: there's several long splits running vertically from the head to feet at the front, visible from the catalogue image. The figure illustrated to the second from the left: the front appears good condition but there's a few long cracks running from the head at back. The figure illustrated to the third from left: the front appears good condition but there's large splits to the back. The figure illustrated to the right: a small piece of the crown is missing, with associated further small losses and cracks, further cracks running vertically to the front. there's a deep crack to the centre of its back. All four figures with traces of original pigment on surface, with numerous small splits to the woods and small losses to extremities.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Finely carved with detailed armour and menacing faces, these four figures represent the Four Guardian Kings (Sitian Wang) who are on earth to guard the four cardinal points of the world and protect the Buddhist Law (dharma), according to Buddhist philosophy. The four kings, who are believed to have been present at every critical moment in Buddha’s life, including his birth and his attainment of nirvana, were originally placed on the four sides of stupas to guard the Buddhist relics inside. They include Virudhaka, ‘He who enlarges the kingdom’, the Guardian of the South; Dhrtarastra, ‘He who maintains the kingdom of the Law’, the Guardian of the East; Vaishravana, ‘He who is knowing’, the Guardian of the North, and Virupaksha, ‘He who observes all things in the kingdom’, the Guardian of the West. Each guardian is depicted as a fierce warrior, with eyes wide open and their muscular bodies visible under their armour, while their celestial nature is indicated by their flowing scarves.

Surviving complete sets of the Four Guardian Kings carved with full rounded faces and intricate detail as seen on the present are rare; a comparable set, but the figures seated on rockwork bases, was sold in our New York rooms, 13^th September 2017, lot 119. Compare also a standing wood figure of a guardian, sold at Christie’s New York, 20th March 2014, lot 2061. See also four much larger painted stucco sculptures dressed in similarly modelled armour, from the Shuanglinsi temple in Pingyao, Shanxi province, illustrated in situ in Shuanglinsi cai su foxiang [Buddhist images of coloured stucco from Shuanglinsi], Taipei, 1997, pp 33 and 35.