SONG DYNASTY (960-1279)

The motif of two lions with a ball between them forming the support of the headrest of a pillow can be seen on glazed pottery pillows of Cizhou type, such as the example dated Northern Song dynasty, 11th century, in the Ashmolean Museum, illustrated by M. Treagar in Song Ceramics, New York, 1982, p. 85, no. 82, where another similar pillow found at the kiln sites at Dengfeng in Henan is mentioned. Also illustrated, p. 96, no. 101, is a Cizhou-type stoneware lion-form pillow without headrest covered in white slip and clear glaze, dated Northern Song dynasty, early 12th century, in the National Museum, Tokyo.