A white and russet jade 'Buddhist lion' group, Qing dynasty | 清 白玉太獅少獅

The theme of Buddhist lions was popular since the Ming dynasty. The depiction of a Buddhist lion and a young cub forms the pun taishi shaoshi, which translates as 'May you and your descendant achieve high rank'. It is rare to find the depiction of a lioness with her two cubs as seen on the present lot. See a similar jade lion group also carved as a recumbent lioness and her two cubs sold in these rooms, 4th October 2011, lot 2141.

太獅少獅主題明代以來十分流行，各類形式的藝術題材皆有表現，寓意「子嗣昌盛」，又音太史少保，故有升官進爵的美意。雕刻三獅之太獅少獅主題相對比較少見，見香港蘇富比曾售出一例，2011年10月4日，編號2141。