Pair of 19th Century Chinese Carved Bone Shishi Guardian Lions

Item Details

An impressive pair of 19th century Chinese carved, tessellated bone shishi guardian lion statues. The statues depicting the traditional female lion holding a lion cub beneath her left paw which represents the cycle of life and the male lion holding the traditional ‘embroidered ball’, both representing the female yin and the male yang. The mythical lions are intricately carved with labor intensive hand craftsmanship and triangular cut bone inlay, handset over what may be carved wood underneath due to the heavy weight of the lions. They are finely detailed with scrolls, grooved accents throughout and designs on the lions that are typical of the period of the Qing Dynasty, the last of the Chinese Dynasties which reigned from 1644-1912. Traditionally, the female lion is said to protect those that are dwelling on the inside and the male traditionally guards the structure on the outside of the dwelling. Shi guardian lions were typically placed in front of houses of the wealthy or people of high court and in front of temples.

Condition

The male lion has a slight split or separation of the bone on the head. Needs cleaned up. Preview for personal assessment.

Dimensions

Item #

15CIN032-047