A carved lion of so-called. Puddingstone' on a plinth

Description:

China, Tang style
H. 22,7 cm
The lion guardian is shown seated on a rectangular base with his front legs stiffly braced, his body facing forward, his head with bulging eyes below bushy eyebrows, pricked ears, slightly upturned snout, open mouth in a fierce roar showing a double row of teeth and fangs, its mane finely worked out and his tail curling over the base between his hind legs.
From the Helmut Ploog Collection (1940 - 2024), collected from 1965 onwards
Cf. a similar somewhat smaller sculpture, auctioned at Christie's New York, Lacquer, Jade, Bronze, Ink: The Irving Collection, 21.3.2019, Lot 1182 - Somewhat chipped