Page 180 - Christie's Hong Kong November 29, 2022 Fine Chinese Works of Art

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AN EXCEPTIONAL PAIR OF MASSIVE WHITE 明中期 漢白玉雕瑞獅一對
MARBLE BUDDHIST LIONS
來源:
MING DYNASTY, 16TH-17TH CENTURY 日本蘆屋市顯赫家族舊藏，20世紀初入藏（傳）
Each lion is chiseled from a single block of white marble, seated on
its haunches with jaws open, the bulging eyes peering from below
the bushy eyebrows, the head surrounded by a mane of tight curly
tufts above a collar centred by a lion-mask, tied around the neck with
ribbons trailing down the back, the female playfully pressing her
cub under her left paw, the male clutching a beribboned brocade ball
beneath the right paw. Both are supported on an integral base with a
cover detailed with a diaper ground.
female: 68º in. (173.5 cm.) high, 25º (64 cm.) wide, 48æ in.
(123.6 cm.) deep; male: 68Ω in. (173 cm.) high, 25º in. (64.3 cm.)
wide, 48 in. (122 cm.) deep, each weighs approximately
2 metric tons (2)
HK$2,000,000-3,000,000 US$260,000-380,000

P R O V E NAN C E :
A prominent Japanese family collection, Ashiya, Japan since early
20th century (by repute)