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Japan
Edo period (1603 - 1858) / 19th century
Seated guardian lion, head turned to the right, with a massive body and powerful chest and legs, expressing great strength. The mane and tail are treated in broad, swirling curls and feature tufts of hair in wide, undulating locks. The expressively rendered head features piercing eyes, swirling tufts of hair and an open mouth (a gyō), traditionally interpreted as evoking the first letter of the alphabet from Sanskrit (a) and which may, by analogy, refer to the Western alpha.
Called komainu in Japan and placed in pairs at the entrance to Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples, guardian lions are protectors of the faith and ward off evil spirits.
The traditional technique used here for shaping the statue is called Yosegi-Zukuri, and consists in carving different pieces designed separately before manufacture (in this case some fifteen) and then assembling them with spikes.
Wood, glass, old traces of lacquer
Minor accidents, cracks and wear, in keeping with the age of the piece.
38.7 x 41.5 cm
Private collection
Ref: 6OKKXNAOF4