Song Dynasty Tile of a Lion Dance, China (4001BLE) $495

Description

The Song dynasty (960–1279) is considered the most culturally brilliant era in later imperial Chinese history. A massive expansion during this dynasty produced government, public and religious buildings and tombs with walls decorated with earthenware unglazed mold-made brick tiles. Some were purely decorative and others were wishes for happiness and comfort in the  deceased’s  afterlife called mingqi. Brick tiles depicted holiday celebrations and mythology, as well as mythical animals, plants, vegetation and other auspicious objects. This thin brick depicts a traditional lion dance inside a balanced frame has two scared children on the left, a person behind the lion and a fourth on the right with his hands in anjali mudra. Usually used as a sign of adoration or respect, it may be a fearful prayer that the lion hurts no one. Performed by two dancers in a costume simulating the lion’s movements, the front performer controls the head and back the hindquarters. Dating back two millennia, the dance is based on a folk tale about a lion showing his power repelling a monster who attacked a village. Upon its return, the lion was not present so the villagers in a lion costume danced and scared the monster away forever. Performed at Chinese New Year to attract prosperity and good luck for the coming year (fu), it is also used as holiday and business entertainment purposes. Old un-reinforced buildings with these pieces used fired mud/brick construction subject to earthquakes, floods, fires and war, so few survived intact without restoration. Originally covered with slip and polychrome, this tile is in relatively good condition with expected surface wear, nicks and abrasions, possible restorations on the right and attached burial residue. With a proper mount this would make a good wall decoration.