Dimensions: Height 52 cm Wide 20 cm Depth 30cm
Weight: 8892 grams

Powerfully modelled and richly glazed in the classic sancai palette of green, ochre, cream and black, the guardian lion sits majestically with gaping jaws, bulging eyes and a long striped beard falling over the chest. Its powerful paw rests on a finely reticulated brocade ball, symbol of cosmic power and dominion. The detachable square plinth is decorated on two sides with lush peony sprays and butterflies, symbols of wealth and longevity, and on the others with bold pierced roundels surrounded by scrolling foliage.

The glaze is vibrant and lustrous, with striking contrasts and only minor wear, the condition remarkable given the scale and age of the piece.

Large sancai-glazed Buddhist lions of this quality and size are exceptionally rare. Intended as temple guardians or prestigious decorative pieces in elite households, they embodied protection, prosperity, and auspicious power. Comparable examples are preserved in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, while related works have appeared in major auctions at Christie’s and Bonhams. The present figure, with its impressive size, detachable pedestal and superbly preserved glaze, represents a desirable and important collector’s piece, seldom encountered on the market

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