A SUPERBLY CARVED LIMESTONE FIGURE OF A LION, TANG DYNASTY China, 618-907. Naturalistically carved, the emaciated beast seated on its taut haunches atop a rectangular base, with its head turned to one side framed by the finely incised curled mane. Its ferocious expression is detailed with deeply carved bulging eyes, heavy brows, and the mouth open in a roar. The stone is of a brownish-gray tone. The base with an oval aperture in the center.

Provenance: Sotheby’s New York, 3 June 1987, sold for USD 26,400 (approx. USD 64,792 today after inflation). An English private collection, acquired from the above. Christie’s London, 5 November 2013, lot 310, sold for GBP 52,500 (approx. GBP 61,529 today after inflation). The property of a Lady, acquired from the above.
Condition: Superb condition, commensurate with age. Small chips, minor losses, minuscule nicks, light scratches, old wear, ancient age cracks. Traces of erosion. Fine, naturally grown patina.

Weight: 3,272 g
Dimensions: Height 21.5 cm, Width 16.7 cm

With a silk box and cover. (2)

The lion is well represented in Buddhist art of the Tang dynasty. Its roar was said to represent the dissemination of the Buddhist scriptures. In their role as guardian figures, lions can be found not only lining spirit roads which lead to imperial tombs, but also in pairs in tombs, such as the pair of small marble lions found guarding the front room of the underground hoard of Buddhist relics at the Famen Temple. See Famen Temple, Shanxi, 1990, pp. 164-167. This figure is stylistically similar to other stone lions of Tang date that are also seated on a plinth, some with head turned, some with mouth open.

Literature comparison: Compare the brown-stained white marble lion of related size illustrated by M. Sullivan, Chinese Ceramics, Bronzes and Jades in the Collection of Sir Alan and Lady Barlow, London, 1963, pl. 14 (no. S36). Compare with a similarly modeled lion, illustrated by Osvald Siren in Chinese Sculpture From the Fifth to the Fourteenth Century, Sweden, 1998, p.35, pl.435 D.

Auction result comparison: Compare a closely related puddingstone figure of a lion, 14.3 cm high, also dated to the Tang dynasty, at Christie’s New York in Lacquer, Jade, Bronze, Ink: The Irving Collection Day Sale on 21 March 2019, lot 1182, sold for USD 52,500. Compare a related stone figure of a lion, 16.6 cm high, also dated to the Tang dynasty, at Christie’s New York in Sacred and Imperial: The James and Marilynn Alsdorf Collection Part II on 24 September 2020, lot 910, sold for USD 32,500. Compare a related marble figure of a lion, 51.8 cm high, also dated to the Tang dynasty, at Christie’s New York in The Collection of Robert Hatfield Ellsworth Part I on 17 March 2015, lot 16, sold for USD 317,000.

唐代石雕獅子
中國，618-907年。石獅蹲姿，前腿直立支撐，眼窩深陷，張口露出獠牙，口型巨大，獵毛反捲向側後上方聳立，雙耳側豎，轉頭怒視其左側。獅兩後腿左右分立，四趾緊抓地面，蓄勢待發。雕刻線條清晰流暢，動態十足，爆發之力蘊於其身。整體石雕呈現褐灰色調。底座中間有一個橢圓形的孔洞。

來源：紐約蘇富比 1987年6月 3日，售價USD 26,400 (相當於如今 USD 64,792 )；英國私人收藏，購於上述拍賣；見倫敦佳士得 2013年11月5日 lot 310, 售價GBP 52,500 (相當於如今GBP 61,529)；一位女士的收藏，購於上述拍賣。
品相：狀態極佳，與年齡相稱。小碎屑、輕微損失、微小劃痕、舊時磨損與裂縫，有侵蝕的痕跡。自然生長的包漿非常細膩。

重量：3,272克
尺寸：高21.5厘米，寬16.7厘米

絲錦蓋盒。(2)

獅子在唐代佛教藝術中得到了很好的體現，在佛教的許多經論中，都用它來比喻佛陀的無畏與偉大，它的吼聲代表著佛經的傳播。 作為守護者，獅子不僅出現在通往皇陵的靈道上，而且在墓葬中也成對出現，例如在法門寺地宮前守衛的一對漢白玉獅子。 參見《山西法門寺》，1990年，第 164-167 頁。此獅造型與其他唐朝石獅類似，也坐於台座上，有的轉頭，有的張開嘴。

文獻比較：比較一件漢白玉獅見M. Sullivan, Chinese Ceramics, Bronzes and Jades in the Collection of Sir Alan and Lady Barlow, London, 1963, pl. 14 (no. S36)；比較一件相似的獅子，見Osvald Siren，Chinese Sculpture From the Fifth to the Fourteenth Century, Sweden, 1998, p.35, pl.435 D。

拍賣結果比較：比較一件相近的唐代布丁石石獅，高14.3 厘米，見紐約佳士得Lacquer, Jade, Bronze, Ink: The Irving Collection Day Sale 2019年3月21日 lot 118，售價USD 52,500。比較一件相近的石獅，高16.6 厘米，同樣為唐代， 見紐約佳士得Sacred and Imperial: The James and Marilynn Alsdorf Collection Part II 2020年9月24日 lot 910, 售價USD 32,500。比較一件唐代大理石獅，高51.8 厘米，見紐約佳士得 The Collection of Robert Hatfield Ellsworth Part I 2015年3月17日 lot 16, 售價USD 317,000。