Guardian lion Shishi, North China, Yuan to early Ming dynasty, 1279, Ca. 15th century

Guardian lion Shishi
North China, Yuan to early Ming dynasty, 1279
Ca. 15th century
Ivory glaze with black-brown iron oxide painting
Height 11 cm

Almost caricatured depiction of a male guardian lion from one of the numerous northern Chinese Cizhou workshops with stylized ball under the right paw and prominent beard, on floral decorated base.
Pieces like this were mainly used as altar decorations and grave goods, but may have also served as a kind of knickknack.
The Buddhist lions as protectors of the Dharma were depicted in China for lack of suitable models rather in the shape of dogs, however, a naturalistic depiction was also never intended, rather a symbolic illustration of the characteristics of the lion was the focus.