Guardian lion

Description

Chinese lions, also called Foo Dogs, are sacred to Buddhists as defenders of the law and protectors of sacred buildings. They are always represented in pairs as a manifestation of yin and yang. The female can be recognized by a cub representing the cycle of life and closed mouth. The male has its right front paw placed on a ball and an open mouth symbolising the pronunciation of the sacred word ’om’. This lion, from Kangxi period (1661 - 1722), is made of yellow, green and grey enamelled porcelain. In the middle of lion’s forehead there is a Chinese symbol for ‘The King of Beasts’.

Accession Loan No.

C1461

Collection Class

Decorative Art

Common Name

guardian lion

Simple Name

guardian lion

Full Name

Guardian Lion

Production Year Low

1661

Production Year High

1722

Production Country

China

Material

Porcelain