Figure of a Lion
Unknown Artist
Medium
Porcelain with famille verte
Dimensions
H. 14 in. (35.6 cm)
Classification
Ceramics
Culture & Period
China · Qing dynasty (1644–1911), Kangxi period (1662–1722)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Theodore M. Davis Collection, Bequest of Theodore M. Davis, 1915
Accession Number
30.95.302
Tags
Art Historical Context
This striking porcelain figure of a lion, standing 14 inches (35.6 cm) tall, originates from China's Qing dynasty during the Kangxi period (1662–1722), a golden age of ceramic innovation. Produced at the imperial kilns of Jingdezhen, it showcases the exquisite *famille verte* style—named for its predominant green enamels applied over a brilliant white glaze. These overglaze colors, fired at lower temperatures, allowed for intricate, vibrant designs that captured the lion's fierce yet majestic form, blending functionality with artistry. In Chinese culture, lions symbolized imperial power, prot...