Page 226 - 2019 September 11th Sotheby's Important Chinese Art

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A CARVED LIMESTONE FIGURE OF A defined musculature, but has also reflected its 唐 石灰石雕坐獅
SEATED LION intelligence through the alert facial expression.
TANG DYNASTY For a similar Tang dynasty sculpture of a lion, 來源
see the example from the Concordia House Von Callenberg 收藏
seated on its haunches on an integral Collection, originally acquired from Sotheby 香港蘇富比2014年4月7日，編號3630
rectangular base with defined musculature and
attenuated front legs, the head facing forward Parke Bernet, 11th May 1978, lot 56, and sold
in these rooms, 19th March 2007, lot 123. For
with large piercing eyes and wide open jaws a larger Northern Qi Dynasty example, see the
bearing fangs, framed by a finely articulated lion sculpture from the collection of Sakamoto
mane cascading in thick curls down the nape, a
cub by the left front paw, wood stand (2) Gorō sold in our Hong Kong rooms, 8th October
2013, lot 128.
Height 5¼ in., 13.3 cm
$ 30,000-40,000
PROVENANCE
The Von Callenberg Collection.
Sotheby’s Hong Kong, 7th April 2014, lot 3630.
Lions are traditionally regarded as symbols of
power and the present figure is a particularly
striking example, with its powerful posture
and intricately carved details. The carver has
conveyed the creature’s strength through its

224 SOTHEBY’S IMPORTANT CHINESE ART