Polo's biographers Yule and Cordier (1923) are doubtful of the identification of the 'Canton Marco Polo', believing the Luohan / arhat effigy is more probably based on a 16th century Portuguese visitor to Guangzhou.

The identification seems to have been accepted by the Museo Correr in Marco Polo's native Venice, however, where a copy of the effigy (shown here) has been on display since 1881.