GFT37

Statues of guardian lions are mythical beasts which are believed to have powerful protective powers. These sacred animals have traditionally stood in front of Chinese temples, imperial palaces, emperor’s tombs, homes of government officials and government offices.

They are often displayed in pairs, this pair, a male and a female, can be seen in the entrances of many types of business buildings. Traditionally, the lions are made of granite, marble or cast from iron or bronze. When used as statuary the pair would consist of a male leaning his paw upon an embroidered ball (in imperial contexts, representing supremacy over the world) and a female restraining a playful cub that is on its back (representing nurture).