polychrome porcelain sculpture depicting a crouching feline, possibly a lion. The beautiful “aubergine” glaze, skillfully distributed to imitate the thick fur of the beast, frames its hairless and lumpy head, which looks up with a friendly and vaguely human expression. The subject depicted, perhaps a “free” reinterpretation of the classic Buddhist lion Shi, is part of a large production of similar artifacts, made in China under the reign of Kangxi (1661-1722) and often destined for export to Europe.