An Ormolu-Mounted Celadon-Glazed Buddhist Lion, 17th Century - Photo Sotheby's

modelled seated with its young frolicking beside, its front paw raised holding a beribboned brocade ball, the head looking upward with pierced round eyes and a semi-opened mouth revealing its fangs, detailed with a tightly curled mane and tail, all supported on a rocky base, covered in a rich sea-green glaze, set in gilt-bronze ormolu mounts; 30cm., 11 3/4 in. Estimation: 8,000 - 12,000 GBP

PROVENANCE: Collection of Edouard Chappey, until circa 1902.
Collection of Alberto Bruni Tedeschi.
Sotheby's London, 21st March 2007, lot 95.

NOTE DE CATALOGUE: The Buddhist adult lion together with its cub playing with a brocade ball has important auspicious symbolism; the lions represent the wish for success in achieving high rank in one’s career, while the brocade ball, tied with long ribbons, is the symbol of longevity. Lion, cub and ball together convey the wish for high rank, wealth and longevity. Traditionally, Chinese Buddhist lions are depicted seated on a pedestal, the female animal together with her cub, while the male lion is typically shown playing with a brocade ball. The present example was made for the export market, whereby the group figure has been adapted to suit Western taste.

For related ormolu-mounted ceramic figures of Buddhist lions, see a pair from the collection of the Louvre, Paris, illustrated in D.F. Lunsigh Scheurleer, Chinesisches und Japanisches Porzellan in Europaischen Fassungen, Wurzburg, 1980, pl. 376, together with another pair also in the Louvre mounted on a clock-stand, pl. 380, both pairs attributed to the Kangxi period. See also a pair of ormolu-mounted blanc-de-chine Buddhist lion figures, also of the 17th century, in the Musee Nissim de Camondo, Paris, included ibid., pl. 384; and a pair of biscuit lions painted with a range of enamel colours, illustrated in Ulrich Pietsch, China, Japan. Meissen. The Dresden Porcelain Collection, Dresden, 2006, p. 29, where it is noted that porcelain lion figures were made in large quantities and numerous different forms in the Kangxi period both for the domestic market and for export. In Europe they served as decorative articles of furnishing, as is evident from the present example with its European mount.

Sotheby's. Treasures of the Qing Court, A Personal Perspective. London | 07 nov. 2012, www.sothebys.com