A LARGE BRONZE 'BUDDHIST LION' CENSER AND COVER, CHINA, 18TH CENTURY

A LARGE BRONZE 'BUDDHIST LION' CENSER AND COVER, CHINA, 18TH CENTURY

Boldly cast as a stout recumbent beast lifting its head to glare at the viewer, the mouth slightly agape in a snarl revealing tongue, teeth, and fangs, its face well detailed with wide bulging eyes, bushy curling brows, a broad ruyi-form nose. A hollowed section of the back surmounted by a separately cast cover in the form of the beast's neatly incised curling mane reminiscent of crashing wave, the long bushy tail also separately cast. (3)

Provenance: Philadelphia trade. Acquired from a private estate.
Condition: Very good condition with minor wear, casting irregularities, traces of use, few minuscule nicks, occasional light scratches.

Weight: 6,508 g
Dimensions: Length 42 cm

Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Christie's New York, 14 September 2017, lot 723
Price: USD 20,000 or approx. EUR 23,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A bronze figure of a Buddhist lion, 18th century
Expert remark: Compare the closely related modeling and manner of casting with similar pose and separately cast tail. Note the smaller size (28.6 cm).