Pair of Bluestone Carved Guardian Lion Ornaments, Qing Dynasty, 18th-19th Century

拍品描述

Dimensions: Each piece is 23.5 cm (9.25 inches) tall, with a base 16 cm (6.30 inches) long. The pair weighs a total of 9780 grams. Qing Dynasty, 18th-19th century. Condition and Provenance: This pair of lions is carved from dense, solid bluestone. The natural grayish-brown patina has formed evenly over centuries, without modern polishing, acid washing, or artificial dyeing. The two lions are perfectly symmetrical; the male lion is playing with a silk ball, while the female lion sits close together. They are in excellent condition. The spiral mane on the lion's head is tightly curled and clearly defined; the facial features are vivid and three-dimensional; the open mouth contains a movable stone ball, the teeth are intact, and the facial lines are complete. The ribbon on the chest, the scales on the abdomen, and the curls of the mane on the sides are all carved in deep relief with smooth, clear lines, without large areas of stone chipping or missing. The male lion has strong limbs and sharp claws, which are well-preserved, and the patterns on the silk ball on its front paws are clearly visible. The square stone base is carved from a single piece into the lion's body, with smooth edges and only slight natural wear from long-term display, showing no signs of damage, cracks, or repairs. The stone substrate has no hidden cracks, and the weathering marks are even and natural, with no trace of repairs on the surface. Originally decorations of traditional Jiangnan residences, this pair of lions entered the overseas antique market in the 1990s. They are currently in the collection of a private collector in Pennsylvania who specializes in Chinese stone carvings and miscellaneous antiques. New York State and Vancouver are major global centers for the trading of stone carvings and miscellaneous antiques. Description: This pair of Qing Dynasty bluestone guardian lions is a top-tier antique stone carving, used for traditional temple guardian decorations. Each statue is carved from a single piece of fine-grained bluestone, forming a complete male-female pair, a classic Chinese guardian lion design. The two lions crouch firmly on a single square base, their bodies robust and powerful, exuding a solemn and majestic aura. The male lion rests one paw on an openwork silk ball, symbolizing unity, prosperity, and good fortune; the female lion stands beside him. The entire pair of lions follows the traditional Qing Dynasty home furnishing customs. The lions' manes are coiled into multi-layered spirals, their eyes are piercing, and a movable stone ball is embedded in their open mouths. The nostrils, whiskers, and facial muscles are all depicted with remarkable realism. Each lion's chest is adorned with an exquisitely carved endless ribbon, symbolizing longevity and good health; the lion's body is covered with layered scale patterns. The limbs are full and powerful, with clearly defined muscles, and the sharp claws are surrounded by delicate cloud-patterned reliefs, creating a rich sense of depth and three-dimensionality. The one-piece stone base ensures the stability of the display. Centuries of natural weathering have formed a thick and soft patina on the bluestone surface, giving it a calm and timeless stone tone. Well-preserved pairs of Qing Dynasty stone lions are extremely rare. This set of miniature hall ornaments is finely crafted, without any damage or repair marks, and has significant folk, academic, and traditional cultural value. It is an ideal choice for studying Qing Dynasty stone carving techniques and also possesses outstanding classical Chinese interior decoration aesthetic value. It is the perfect centerpiece of the stone carving exhibition at the Folk Art Museum, and also a flagship piece for overseas collectors to create their Chinese stone artifact collections.

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