East Asia, China, Qing Dynasty, ca. 19th century CE. A marvelous and quite massive wooden corbel in the form of a female fu lion atop scrolling, stylized clouds as she holds her young and a ball in her front paws and displays one black resin inlaid eye on her fierce visage. Size: 27.5" L x 10.7" W x 14.3" H (69.8 cm x 27.2 cm x 36.3 cm)

Lions were introduced to Chinese courts as early as the Han dynasty; however, most artists relied on second-hand sources for descriptions, resulting in very stylized figures that were often mistaken as dogs by western viewers. These fu lions, also known as foo lions or foo dogs, are the highly stylized representations of a spiritual lion guardians that protected sacred buildings, tombs, or palaces against evil spirits or people. They are usually presented in pairs outside an entrance to protect those within, representing the male and female as well as yin. Symbolically, the male fu lion protects the outside, and the female protects the inside of the dwelling. When portrayed together the male usually plays with a ball and the female plays with a cub - here both the cub and ball are portrayed. This corbel, jutting prominently from the side of a building, would have been an impressive and auspicious marker to those who passed through the entrance.

Provenance: private southern California, USA collection, acquired before 2000

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#186381

Missing one inlaid eye. Some stable pressure fissures, as well as chips, nicks, and abrasions to wood. Areas of old inactive insect holes and some light water damage. Otherwise, great remaining detail and rich patina to surface.