This lioness in unglazed porcelain painted with Famille Verte enamels has moveable eyes, aubergine manes, red flames on their backs and flanks, and the character wang [king] in gold on the front.

This figure, like its pair, stands on a rectangular base. It’s a female whose tongue affectionately touches the cub climbing up her body. The male (inv. 329A) places his left paw on a brocaded ball decorated with four white medallions, two of which hold lotus flowers, while the others show a flowering plant next to a pierced rock.

Calouste Gulbenkian was particularly fond of these lions and purchased another pair (inv. 2304A and inv. 2304B), as well as an exceptional example in white jade (inv. 467).