Jade figurine ‘Lioness and cub’, Qing dynasty

White Hetian jade, with amber flecks. It depicts a lioness with her cub, lying on her paws holding a ball. On her back is the crouching cub.  The face shows bulging eyes, drooping ears, wide nostrils and an open muzzle showing the teeth. The tail is upwards and the ends are ‘ruyi’ shaped.

The traditional Chinese concept ‘太师少师’ (Tài shī shao shī) refers to a lion or lioness holding a lion. Lion and master are homophones in Chinese and so the meaning of a lion as a master is taken.

Size: 5.3 x 4.5 x 8 cm

Weight: 226 g