A pair of hardwood figures of foreigners on hardwood and green-stained ivory balustrated stands
木雕’胡人獻寶’坐獅像一對, 嵌染綠象牙木座

Qing dynasty, 18th century, China
清代, 18世紀, 中國

Figure: L24 x W17 x H35cm (H50cm including base), L9.45 x W6.69 x H13.78 inches - Base: L32 x W17 x H15, L12.6 x W6.69 x H5.91 inches
胡人像:長24x寬17 x高35釐米 (高50釐米含木座) - 木座：長32x寬17 x高15釐米

Each figure is seated on a Buddhist lion holding a different shaped vase, wearing a domed helmet crested with a ruyi and dressed with similar buttoned gauntlets and gaiters on the legs. The right figure has a grinning face framed by a curled beard and bushy brows; the other wears a smiling expression between ringed earlobes. The Buddhist lions both have broad faces, with a ferocious yet charming expression revealing fangs and tongues, bulging eyeballs, a snub nose with pierced nostrils, wispy hair along the spine and a voluminous bushy tail. The left one rests its forepaw on a brocade ball, the right one on a playful cub at its side. Both lions stand on a hardwood and green-stained ivory stand, decorated with foliated apron, a band of Greek-key design (回字紋) and ruyi head scrolls. The tightly grained wood patinated to a rich reddish-brown colour.