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Dutch Colonial Period Ceylonese Guardian Lion Sculpture – 18th Century

$1,952.32

£1,446.77

€1,630

CA$2,665.28

A$2,965.02

CHF 1,554.30

MX$36,231.79

NOK 19,792.06

SEK 18,631.49

DKK 12,410.68

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About the Item

18th-Century Dutch Ceylonese Guardian Lion Sculpture with Inlaid Eyes Sri Lanka (Dutch Ceylon), circa 1700–1790 Hand-carved Nadun wood (Pericopsis mooniana), inlaid eyes Dimensions: 15 cm long × 14 cm high Condition: Excellent with original patina, minor age wear consistent with 18th-century handling A rare and finely carved guardian lion sculpture from Dutch Ceylon, dating to the 18th century, during the administration of the Dutch East India Company (VOC). Executed in nadun, a dense tropical hardwood native to Sri Lanka, the figure is remarkable for its robust baroque stylization, compact proportions, and inlaid eyes — a high-status feature typically reserved for elite commissions. This lion is sculpted with powerful haunches, a spiraling mane, and a tail that arcs vertically in classic Sinhalese-VOC hybrid style. The facial expression is animated and protective, with the inlaid eyes enhancing its symbolic “watchfulness.” The body is decorated with punctuated details, and the patina across high-relief areas reveals centuries of gentle handling. Despite its modest scale, the sculpture demonstrates an advanced degree of craftsmanship, clearly intended as a freestanding symbolic object, likely for domestic display within a colonial residence. Guardian figures of this type were understood to offer protection, prestige, and status, blending indigenous beliefs with European aesthetics. Notable Features VOC-period craftsmanship with European and Sinhalese stylistic elements Authentic 18th-century patina, undisturbed and richly developed Inlaid eyes, likely of bone or shell — rare and intact Carved from nadun wood (Pericopsis mooniana), a prized cabinet wood of the era Symbolically resonant, likely used as a domestic guardian figure, not a souvenir or toy Comparative Notes Related examples held in the Rijksmuseum (Amsterdam), Tropenmuseum, and National Museum of Colombo Stylistically and materially aligned with 18th-century VOC furniture lions and altar ornamentation

Dimensions:

Height: 5.52 in (14 cm)Width: 5.91 in (15 cm)Depth: 3.55 in (9 cm)

Style:

Dutch Colonial (Of the Period)

Materials and Techniques:

Wood,Hand-Carved

Place of Origin:

Sri Lanka

Period:

Date of Manufacture:

18th century

Condition:

Wear consistent with age and use. normal age traces.

Seller Location:

Bilzen, BE

Reference Number:

1stDibs: LU10361245897482

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