Glazed Incense Burner in the Shape of a Lion

The current piece is remarkable in terms of size and preservation (some damage has been professionally restored), and depicts a seated male lion in light--dark blue crackle glaze finish. The representation is stylized, as is standard for Islamic pieces of this type, with the proportions depicted in a slightly expressionistic manner. The forelegs are very long, providing a powerful, solid stance, while the back is very long to compensate, ending with small, muscular back legs curled almost under the body. The head is also unanatomical, being elongated with a flat frontal, a rather rounded muzzle, and “laughter lines” around the edges of the mouth. The mane and the space between the front legs are represented with fine pennate latticework, from which small, pierced triangular ears protrude towards the apex of the head. The ground of the body is smoothed. The mouth is open to expose details of the dentition, notably four elongated canines. The eyes are pointed ovals with pierced pupils and ringed by brows depicted using incised lines. The nose is elongated and straight, ending in a small triangular apex and centrally--slanted oval nostril.