A bronze lion-form figurine, Khurasan, 12th century

cast in the form of reclining lion with his forepaws stretched out in front of him, his body decorated with incised cartouches filled with foliate forms and benedictory inscriptions, inlaid copper to his eyes and forehead



 



 



 

A lion of similar form and size was exhibited at Riyadh in 1985, see Riyadh 1985, p.103, no.82.  Two others from the Harari collection are published in Pope (Pope and Ackerman 1938-9, p.1306, nos. B and C). The exact function of these figurines is not known, Pope identifies them as pumice holders, others believe they are purely ornamental.