An Ormolu-Mounted Celadon-Glazed Buddhist Lion 17th Century

modelled seated with its young frolicking beside, its front paw raised holding a beribboned brocade ball, the head looking upward with pierced round eyes and a semi-opened mouth revealing its fangs, detailed with a tightly curled mane and tail, all supported on a rocky base, covered in a rich sea-green glaze, set in gilt-bronze ormolu mounts

Collection of Edouard Chappey, until circa 1902.
Collection of Alberto Bruni Tedeschi.
Sotheby's London, 21st March 2007, lot 95.

There is a repair to the tip of the tail, where it has ben re-applied. There is an area of loss to the ribboning to the brocade ball and an 8cm crack running from the base below this area. There are also several areas to the base that have been ground down to the body. There is some losses to the lower section of the flower at the base and an area of infilling and a firing crack to the interior base.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The Buddhist adult lion together with its cub playing with a brocade ball has important auspicious symbolism; the lions represent the wish for success in achieving high rank in one’s career, while the brocade ball, tied with long ribbons, is the symbol of longevity. Lion, cub and ball together convey the wish for high rank, wealth and longevity. Traditionally, Chinese Buddhist lions are depicted seated on a pedestal, the female animal together with her cub, while the male lion is typically shown playing with a brocade ball. The present example was made for the export market, whereby the group figure has been adapted to suit Western taste.

For related ormolu-mounted ceramic figures of Buddhist lions, see a pair from the collection of the Louvre, Paris, illustrated in D.F. Lunsigh Scheurleer, Chinesisches und Japanisches Porzellan in Europaischen Fassungen, Wurzburg, 1980, pl. 376, together with another pair also in the Louvre mounted on a clock-stand, pl. 380, both pairs attributed to the Kangxi period. See also a pair of ormolu-mounted blanc-de-chine Buddhist lion figures, also of the 17^th century, in the Musee Nissim de Camondo, Paris, included ibid., pl. 384; and a pair of  biscuit lions painted with a range of enamel colours, illustrated in Ulrich Pietsch, China, Japan. Meissen. The Dresden Porcelain Collection, Dresden, 2006, p. 29, where it is noted that porcelain lion figures were made in large quantities and numerous different forms in the Kangxi period both for the domestic market and for export. In Europe they served as decorative articles of furnishing, as is evident from the present example with its European mount.