A fine cast bronze lion head from an incense burner, Khurasan, 11th-12th century

cast in the form of a smiling feline with open mouth, protruding tongue, scroll whiskers and pointed ears, the body and head pierced and engraved with palmette scrolls

Similar examples can be found in major public and private collections, Hermitage (Pope and Ackermann 1938-9, vol. VI, pl.1304; Ward 1993, fig.3, p.12; Amsterdam 1999, no.202, p.228), The David Collection (von Folsach 2001, no.471, p.302), The Louvre (Pope and Ackermann 1938-9, vol. VI, pl.1297; Paris 1977, no.348, p.165), The Cleveland Museum of Art (Du Ry, C., Art of Islam, New York, 1970, p.95) and the monumental version in the Metropolitan Museum, dated A.H.577 or 579 [A.D.1181 or 1183] (The Metropolitan Museum of Art. The Islamic World, New York, 1987, fig.27, 40-41). A similar head was sold through these rooms 18 April 2007, lot 98.