Page 31 - For the Love of Porcelain

8
Lion incense stick
holder, Dehua (Fujian),
late Ming dynasty, 17th
century, h. 25 cm,
inv. no. XLVIII:XI:
C.a.a.21

9
Lion incense stick
holder, Dehua (Fujian),
late Ming dynasty,
17th century, h. 12.4
cm, inv. no. XLVIII:XI:
C.a.a.18

7 he has celestial status, and was probably jewels, and stands with both front paws on
Lion incense stick originally part of the decoration on top of a large brocaded ball. In appearance and
holder, Dehua (Fujian), a roof. Chinese roofs needed supernatural posture he resembles a creature created by
late Ming dynasty, protection to repel invasion by evil spirits. acrobats, with a man inside an ornamental
4
17th century, h. 39.5 The protective nature of lions was seen as fit lion costume, who performs in a lion dance
cm, inv. no. XLVIII:XI: for that purpose. and other theatricals. In other words, this
C.a.a.26 lion is no longer a fearsome beast, but a
Dating to the nineteenth century is a playful and festive animal.
number of pieces made in the Shiwan kilns at
Foshan near Guangzhou. The kilns supplied Of a similar nature is the pair of large lions
architectural ceramics for local temples, and in fig. 4, balancing brocaded balls with long
also for Chinese temples overseas in Hong streamers on their noses, and standing upright
Kong and Vietnam. For example, the Quan with their front paws on rocks. Holes near
Cong Temple in Hoi An in Vietnam has a fine the bases indicate where they were previously
pair of roof ridge decorations in the form of fixed to a larger architectural display. They
the Sun God and the Moon Goddess. They were bought from Bukowski’s in 1910, but
resemble a pair of figures in the Victoria had previously belonged to Countess Ella
and Albert Museum (HMC CD.80/1&2), von Rosen, wife of a commander in the
acquired by Her Majesty’s Commissioners Swedish Navy. A scion of the Moore family
in 1871 for an International Exhibition. 5 of Philadelphia, Ella was the daughter of an
At the same time the V&A received a large energetic and well-educated mother who
architectural finial shaped as a leaping fish financed her husband’s scientific work and
that these lions, purchased from Bukowski’s Of later date is the roof tile in fig. 2, in the (HMC CD.80/3), made to be placed at wrote prolifically on marriage, divorce, self-
in 1907, came directly from China, as roof form of a mounted warrior on a lion. The the end of a roof ridge. Brilliantly coloured improvement and university education for
tiles and architectural ceramics were popular warrior is dressed in clothing and cap of with turquoise, white and yellow glazes, it women. She was also a passionate collector,
with Westerners, and were easy for dealers a kind worn by nomadic tribes from the is stylistically similar to a lion with bulging a trait that she seems to have passed on to
to acquire. In China they had little intrinsic Steppes. He is blowing a hunter’s horn, eyes in the Hallwyl Collection (fig. 3). This her daughter.
value, and were not collected at that time. but his fantastic mount indicates that fantastic beast is adorned with ribbons and

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