CHINE, DYNASTIE QING, XVIIIÈME-XIXÈME SIÈCLE

In Buddhist iconography, the lion functions as both a sacred guardian and an emblem of primordial wisdom. As the mount of Manjushri, the Bodhisattva of Wisdom, it signifies the courage and discernment required to overcome illusion and attain enlightenment. Within a scholar’s studio, a sculpture of this kind was believed to repel malign influences, encourage intellectual clarity, and serve as a cultivated reminder of knowledge’s victory over ignorance.
This finely modeled recumbent Buddhist lion is robust yet intentionally compact, a sophisticated adaptation for display upon a scholar’s desk or cabinet. The rounded head, full cheeks, and meticulously rendered curling mane balance vigor with composure. Through the adept use of rotary tools, the craftsman has articulated the creature’s muscular form while subtly modulating the texture of the fur, producing a lustrous surface animated by a restrained inner radiance.