Page 97 - Christies Alsdorf Collection PART 2 Sept 24 2020 NYC

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A LIMESTONE FIGURE OF A SEATED LION
CHINA, TANG DYNASTY (AD 618-907) The lion is well represented in Buddhist art of the Tang
dynasty. Its roar was said to represent the dissemination
The fierce lion shown seated on a rectangular plinth, the braced forelegs supporting the
broad torso, the face with snarling expression and the mane finely delineated of the Buddhist scriptures. In their role as guardian
figures, lions can be found not only lining spirit roads
8Ω in. (21.5 cm.) high
which lead to imperial tombs, but also in pairs in tombs,
$20,000-30,000 such as the pair of small marble lions found guarding the
front room of the underground hoard of Buddhist relics
PROVENANCE: at the Famen Temple. See Famen Temple, Shanxi, 1990,
Mathias Komor, New York, 30 August 1954. pp. 164-167.
The James and Marilynn Alsdorf Collection, Chicago.
The posture and fierce expression of the present figure
EXHIBITED:
Stockholm, National Museum, Exhibition of Chinese and Japanese Sculptures and Paintings, compares closely to a smaller puddingstone figure of a
September 1933. lion (14.3 cm. high), from the Florence and Herbert
Irving collection, sold at Christie’s New York, March
LITERATURE:
21, 2019, lot 1182; and another grey limestone lion, of
National Museum, Stockholm, Catalogue of an Exhibition of Chinese and Japanese Sculptures
similar size, sold at Christie’s New York, 22-23 March
and Paintings, 1933, p. 21, no. 108.
2012, lot 1762.
唐 石灰岩雕獅子
來源:
Mathias Komor，紐約，1954年8月30日。
詹姆斯及瑪麗蓮·阿爾斯多夫珍藏，芝加哥。

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