A White-glazed DING “Lion” Pillow
Northern Song Dynasty
- KILN:DING Kiln
- PERIOD:Northern Song Dynasty
- DIMENSIONS:Height 12.5 cm, Length 20.08 cm, Width 18.1 cm
Introduction
Vividly sculpted after a lion, and decorated with stamping and impressing floral motif, the pillow’s headrest is in the shape of a flower cluster, with a curve to fit the contour of human’s head and neck; it is carved with double-layered borderlines and a design of stamped peony flowers in the centre, with branches and twigs interlocking with each other, leaves overlapping and piling up, petals spreading out. The base is sculpted after a crouching lion, with a broad forehead, two hanging ears, wide open eyes, thick eye-brows, raised nose and an open mouth with teeth exposed, curling hair, with its head leaning on two stretching forelegs, its hind legs curled up, the tail sweeping at the belly; the lion carries a silk draped pillow with Ruyi-shaped cloud pattern; it crouches on the ground and is supported on a double-decked pedestal with rails and window designs. The pillow is covered overall in white glaze, leaving its bottom exposed.
