Ca. 618 - 907 AD. Chinese Tang Dynasty. A playful terracotta sculpture of a male lion, with a delicately modeled mane is depicted sitting on his haunches, with one foot stretched forward as if to groom itself. Lions captured the Chinese imagination after being introduced to China from ancient Persia and India. Artistic representations of lions came to serve an almost amuletic function with statues such as this one considered to act as a protective guardians. Indeed, stone sculptures of lions soon came to flank the enterance ways to government buildings, and private homes throughout China. This piece has been precisely dated having undergone Thermo Luminescence analysis by Ralf Kotalla, an independent German Laboratory. The samples collected date the piece to the period reflected in its style, whilst also showing no modern trace elements. Its TL certificate with full report will also accompany this lot. Excellent condition.Size: L:430mm / W:290mm ; 12.95kg; Provenance; Property of a Central London gallery, acquired from an established English collection; formerly acquired in Hong Kong, Hollywood Antique Center in the early 1990s.