With elegant, stylized ferocity, a rampant lion pounces on a fleeing demon. Originally, this graceful sculpture may have stood guard at the doorway of a palace or temple as a warning to all malicious spirits not to enter. The tradition for lions guarding doors and gates is an ancient one, common to a great variety of cultures including the Egyptians, Assyrians, Romans and Chinese. There is a strong Chinese influence in this piece, suggesting open relations between the two cultures. Rendered with the timeless energy of myth, this is a work of enduring power and beauty.