Antique Chinese Carved Hardwood Foo Dog Guardian Lion Pillar Strut Shishi Corbel 四獅子支柱

Antique Chinese Carved Pillar Struct

Guardian Lion 護人獅子

Four Lion pups

Circa: Qing, 19th century and earlier
H 35 in.(89cm), W 16 in.(40.6cm), D 9.5 in.(24cm)

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Since the Han Dynasty in the Third Century, Guardian lions grew to be miraculous and mighty protectors that safeguarded the imperial palaces, emperors' tombs, and government offices. In this splendid 19th Century Qing era corbel strut that once graced the architecture in feudal China, the Feng Shui elements are seen in the long string of Chinese gold coins across the top; by its right, a deity of fortune standing on the lion's head has one hand holding a Chinese gold sycee. In a playful composition, the large lion stands on her front paws in an aerobic stance. As one lion pup appears to be precariously holding onto her back, two baby lions are burrowing directly beneath the lion's jaws guarding a reticulated ball. True to the thousand years of Chinese aesthetics that preserved the lion's fantastic character. Along with its wavy mane and fan-like lion tail in midair, the guardian lion family's hieratic features are rendered with snail-curls hair, large ears, deeply furrowed thick eyebrows above the bulging eyes, flared nostrils, and opened jaws that are obsequiously in good nature. The sculptural composition is expressive and animated, an exceptional work of art of the mid-Qing period.

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