北齊 石獅|Guardian lion

Unknown

mid-6th century · Limestone · Asian Art

This lion head and its mate (30.66.1) were likely part of a sarcophagus. A similar pair of lions adorns the sarcophagus of Shi Jun, found in Xi’an, Shaanxi province, in 2003 (see Yang Junkai, Xi’an Shi Jun mu (Xi’an: Xi’an shi wenwu baohu yanjiusuo, 2014), 杨军凯，西安史君墓). Other comparable examples include the eight lion heads attached to the sarcophagus of Yu Hong, excavated in Taiyuan, Shanxi province in the early 2000 (Taiyuan shi wenwu kaogu yanjiusuo, Sui dai Yu Hong mu (Beijing: Wenwu Press, 2005) 太原市文物考古研究所 (编). 《隋代虞弘墓》. 北京: 文物出版社. 2005年9月1日. ISBN 978750101668).

Artist

Unknown

Date

mid-6th century

Medium

Limestone

Culture

China

Department

Asian Art

Credit line

Rogers Fund, 1930