Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 9

Bronze Patinated Polychromed Buddhist Lion Incense Burner! Tongshi Sculpture Art

About the Item

MAGNIFICENT! BRONZE LION INCENSE BURNER! EXTREMELY RARE! APPROXIMATE DIMENSIONS: 7" Tall x 7" Wide Well cast, standing on all four legs (very rare pose!) while twisting its sinewy and powerful body to the left from the chest, the head glaring with an open-mouthed grimace, the fierce expression accentuated by flowing ears, piercing eyes, and whiskers, the bushy flame-shaped tail extending the movement in its upward sweep, tufts of coiled fur emerging from the muscular body on the legs! This piece is superb in its flow, symmetry and balance! Every muscle captures the strength of the Shi and the lines are exceptional, capturing the lion's powerful but refined geometry! The lion was revered for its powerful protective force, its role as a guardian figure and as an emblem of power! This piece was designed to burn a small amount of incense in the mouth and then the smoke would emerge from the eyes and mouth! This piece affords spectacular showmanship as the protector guardian lion comes to life! Gorgeous vintage condition! Much of the original polychroming still survives! Where it has been worn away, a spectacular bit of verdigris has formed! Displays beautifully! This will be a powerful artistic statement for your NY penthouse, Palm Springs atomic ranch or La Jolla view home!
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 7 in (17.78 cm)Width: 7 in (17.78 cm)Depth: 7 in (17.78 cm)
  • Style:
    Ming (In the Style Of)
  • Materials and Techniques:
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    unknown
  • Condition:
    Wear consistent with age and use. Minor losses. Minor fading.
  • Seller Location:
    Peoria, AZ
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU9080237494712

More From This Seller

View All
Brutalist Direct Metal Bull Sculpture Yahweh, Gilt Polychroming Stock Market
Located in Peoria, AZ
Rare! Brutalist Bull Sculpture Depicting Archaic Deity Yahweh Gilt Polychroming Verso base "Yahweh" This fascinating sculpture is done in a simple, primitive style, looking like...
Category

Late 20th Century Brutalist Animal Sculptures

Materials

Metal, Enamel

Brutalist Polychromed Copper Direct Metal Horse Sculpture! Monumental 33" wide!
Located in Peoria, AZ
Monumental! Brutalist Hand-Gilded Direct Metal Horse Sculpture 33" Wide 17" Tall Perfect for a centerpiece or on a credenza! This magnificent horse sculpture captures a horse ...
Category

Late 20th Century American Brutalist Animal Sculptures

Materials

Copper, Enamel

Rare Aztec Colonial Polychromed Wood Sculpture! Holy Imagene Bultos Santos Icons
Located in Peoria, AZ
MUSEUM PERFECTION ! AZTEC INFLUENCED LATIN AMERICAN COLONIAL ART AMAZINGLY RARE PIECE ! Approx. 14" x 8" x 2 1/2" After Hernán Cortés conquered the Aztec empire, painting and sculpture schools were set up within missions to produce art for Roman Catholic worship in Spanish America to promote Christian evangelization. The works that emerge from this period are great historic treasures and tell us much about this time in history. Icons were important in this conversion process. Here is an Imagene that was likely employed in a church from the 17th century. It features 5 elaborately carved faces and figures depicting angels and saints. This piece is magnificent for many reasons, but the most important reason is that this piece illustrates the bridge between the Spanish and Aztec art schools. The Aztecs had developed the most splendid feather art in the world. Feather mosaics (arte plumario in Spanish, amantecayotl in Nahuatl), were created by specially trained and talented Aztec nobles. The blue green iridescent color of hummingbird feathers had made them a regular form of tribute to Aztec rulers and art that featured these feathers were incomparable. The Spanish art instructors adopted feathers into traditional Catholic imagery and this piece shows the result of such hybrid. Here feathers are prominently sculpted into the background and were polychromed with sensational hues to reflect the native love and cultural appreciation for feather art. Few feather mosaics survive because of their temporal frailty, but the wood worked feathers in this piece give scholars and collectors a lasting indication of how Aztecs stylistically used the feathers in their pieces. Aztec religious leaders wore headdresses and garments made of feathers - and here these saints appear to be wearing feather headdresses! Even after centuries, the colors of this piece are incredibly compelling. Fragments of the rich blue green pigment that was applied to mimic the hummingbird feathers are still present. The golds, yellows and browns display spectacular understanding of complementary colors. What's more this piece also shows Aztec sun imagery incorporated into the design! On the reverse side of the Saints' faces we see a vivid blue sun burst type design which clearly was an Aztec motif of the period and has no comparable counterpart in Catholic holy treasures...
Category

Antique 17th Century Mexican Spanish Colonial Historical Memorabilia

Materials

Wood

Rare Acoma Polychromed Geometric Painting! Sky City Abstract Art Tapestry
By Acoma
Located in Peoria, AZ
"SKY CITY" ACOMA ABSTRACT ART POLYCHROMED TAPESTRY! CIRCA 1900-1930 Framed Behind Glass Extremely Rare! DIMENSIONS: Approximately 40" By 20" Framed In the dry and lonely desert ...
Category

Early 20th Century American Native American Native American Objects

Materials

Canvas

Monumental 19th Century Benin Oba Warrior Bronze Sculpture! Africa
By People from Benin
Located in Peoria, AZ
MAGNIFICENT! BENIN OBA 19TH CENTURY BRONZE WARRIOR SCULPTURE! SUPERB EXAMPLE OF OBA METALWORK! DIMENSIONS: APPROXIMATELY 13" TALL CIRCA 1860-1900 Offered is a rare 19th cen...
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Beninese Tribal Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Incan Sun God Vessel. Terracotta Inti Pre-Columbian Historic Art Sculpture Peru
Located in Peoria, AZ
STUNNING! PRE-COLUMBIAN INCAN CEREMONIAL SUN GOD VESSEL! CIRCA AD 1300-1500 TWO REPRESENTATIONS OF INCAN SUN GOD INTI (also known as Apu-punchau) DIMENSIONS: Approximately 12-1/2 " TALL by 4-1/2" WIDE This is the Holy Grail of Incan Pre-Columbian vessels. Here is an incredibly significant Incan Pre-Columbian terracotta ceremonial vessel with two depictions of INTI, the Incan Sun God on each side of the vessel with incredible details and beautifully preserved. Finding an Incan vessel with the depiction of Inti is quite rare. These were reserved for important ceremonial functions such as Inti Raymi - the festival in honor of the Sun God. What makes this one even more special is that the depiction of the Sun God nicely matches a 17th century document...
Category

Antique 15th Century and Earlier Peruvian Pre-Columbian Historical Memor...

Materials

Terracotta

You May Also Like

Fine Pair of Antique Chinese Cast Bronze Foo Lion Incense Burners
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Fabulous Antique Chinese Foo Lion incense burners originally purchased in Bangkok, Thailand. Patinated bronze with cloud-like tails and fierce open...
Category

Antique 19th Century Asian Qing Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Bronze

Bronze Koro 'incense burner' of a Weasel
Located in Hudson, NY
Beautifully executed and unusual.
Category

Antique 19th Century Japanese Metalwork

Materials

Bronze

Early 20th Century Large Chinese Bronze Censer Incense Burner
Located in Stamford, CT
Early 20th Century large bronze censer on three legs with a foo dog sitting on top and Chinese dragons on each side. Censers also known as incense burners, have a long history in Chi...
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Bronze

Antique Korean Carved Polychrome Wooden Buddhist Figure Sculpture
Located in Forney, TX
Bring a touch of peaceful tranquil serenity and help ward off sickness and negative energy with this large Joseon dynasty (1392–1910) antique Asian hand carved and painted wood Buddh...
Category

Antique 19th Century Korean Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Wood

Old Chinese Bronze Crane Sculpture Burner
Located in 景德镇市, CN
This Old Chinese Bronze Crane Sculpture Burner is a stunning work of traditional artistry and cultural symbolism. Crafted from solid bronze, this exquisite burner features an intricately detailed crane sculpture, a revered symbol of longevity, peace, and prosperity in Chinese culture. The crane is depicted with graceful posture and lifelike details, making it a captivating piece of functional art. Designed as a burner, this sculpture combines elegance and utility, ideal for burning incense or as a decorative centerpiece in any space. The aged bronze patina adds a sense of antiquity and character, reflecting the craftsmanship and historical essence of Chinese bronze art. Perfect for use in meditation rooms, temples, or as part of a collector’s display, this bronze burner...
Category

20th Century Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Bronze

Celestial Kwan Yin Reverse Incense Burner Lamp
Located in Somis, CA
An amazing earthenware Kwan Yin statue with lamp and reverse incense burner by master potter Liu Li Hui. Seated dhayana asana on wood ledge, Kwa...
Category

2010s Chinese Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Metal

Recently Viewed

View All