{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O141406"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O141406/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2010ED8769/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2010ED8769/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2010ED8769","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O141406/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O141406","accessionNumber":"193-1877","objectType":"Figure","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"A <i>shishi</i> is a mythical beast sometimes known as a 'Chinese Lion' or 'Dog of Fo'. Their carved figures are often found, usually in pairs, in the grounds of temples or shrines, where they guarded against evil spirits and demons. This particular <i>shishi</i> is made of glazed stoneware and was produced at the Bizen kilns (modern Okayama Prefecture) in Japan. <i>Shishi</i> are often shown near waterfalls or amid rocks and peonies. They are said to cast out their young from a high rock. If the cub begins to climb up again it is judged to be a perfect beast. Many depictions of <i>shishi</i> climbing up rocks are found in Japanese art.","physicalDescription":"Figure of a <i>shishi</i>, stoneware with thin glaze, Bizen ware.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"stoneware","id":"x30197"}],"techniques":[{"text":"glazed","id":"AAT53914"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Glazed stoneware","categories":[{"text":"Ceramics","id":"THES48982"},{"text":"Stoneware","id":"THES48890"}],"styles":[{"text":"Edo","id":"AAT106643"}],"collectionCode":{"text":"EAS","id":"THES48596"},"images":["2010ED8769"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"137 (VA)","id":"THES49876"},"free":"","case":"19","shelf":"8","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Figure","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Bizen","id":"x36583"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"ca. 1750-1850","earliest":"1745-01-01","latest":"1850-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"13","unit":"in","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Length","value":"78.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"Measurements taken from registers","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"Purchased from the Japanese Commissioners for the Philadelphia Exposition of 1876, accessioned in 1877. This acquisition information reflects that found in the Asia Department registers, as part of a 2022 provenance research project.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Figure of <i>shishi</i>, glazed stoneware; Japan, Bizen, Edo period, ca. 1750-1850","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"Augustus Wollaston Franks and M. Shioda, <i>Japanese Pottery</i>. [London]: Chapman & Hall Ltd., 1880. South Kensington Museum Art Handbooks; 18.","id":"AUTH399030"},"details":"Catalogue number 34","free":""}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[{"text":"Philadelphia International Exhibition, 1876 (1876)","id":"V15"}],"contentOthers":[{"text":"lions (animals)","id":"x30150"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"FIGURE OF A <i>SHISHI</i>\r\nStoneware with thin glaze\r\nBizen ware\r\nJAPANESE; c. 1750-1850\r\n193-1877\r\nA <i>shishi</i> is a mythical beast sometimes known as a 'Chinese Lion' or 'Dog of Fo'. Their carved figures are found, usually in pairs, in the grounds of temples guarding against demons. This <i>shishi</i> may have served the same purpose in a domestic shrine. <i>Shishi</i> are also often shown near waterfalls or amid rocks and peonies. <i>Shishi</i> are said to cast out their young from a high rock. If the cub begins to climb up again it is judged to be a perfect beast. Many depictions of <i>shishi</i> climbing up rocks are found in Japanese art.","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null}}],"partNumbers":["193-1877"],"accessionNumberNum":"193","accessionNumberPrefix":"","accessionYear":1877,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-09","recordCreationDate":"2007-12-07","availableToBook":false}}