Japanese
Guardian Lion-Dog, 15th century
Carved and painted wood, 58.4 x 25.4 x 66 cm (23 x 10 x 26 in.)
This brown wood lion dog sits on its haunches and front paws. Its wide head blends into its equally wide neck. Its eyes appear closed or squinting, its nostrils are centered in a wide band on the face, and its mouth is clenched shut, as if in a grimace. Carved sections of wood likely represent hair or fur on its back and neck. The lion dog has a very flat face which transitions into very broad shoulders and legs that are fairly far apart. The lion dog’s tail appears to split into five sections with one curling to each side and three sticking up at various angles in the middle. There are worn areas on the wood’s surface, and some cracks are visible.
Chinese Loggia
Commentary
Isabella Stewart Gardner kept meticulous records of many of her acquisitions. In keeping with this legacy, object information is continually being reviewed, updated, and enriched in order to give greater access to the collection.