{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O167288"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O167288/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AT4314/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AT4314/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AT4314","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O167288/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O167288","accessionNumber":"C.94-1913","objectType":"Roof tile","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"The production of ceramic tiles and architectural fittings greatly expanded during the Ming dynasty (1279-1366), at a time of growing urbanization in China. Specialised kilns were set up in north and south China, often close to building sites. The tiles were mass-produced and then hand-finished with finer decorative details.\r\n\r\nThis figure, shaped as a lion, was part of an elaborate architectural decoration placed on the top ridge of a roof, probably a Buddhist temple. A vase or another Buddhist symbol was originally fitted into the draped vase on the animal's back. The lion is a popular animal in Buddhist iconography, and it is often depicted as the vehicle of Manjusri, Bodhisattva of Wisdom.","physicalDescription":"Stoneware architectural fitting shaped as a lion carrying on his back a draped canopy, decorated with green, yellow and brown lead glazes","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"stoneware","id":"x30197"}],"techniques":[{"text":"glazing (coating)","id":"AAT53914"},{"text":"moulding","id":"AAT53134"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Stoneware with lead glazes","categories":[{"text":"Ceramics","id":"THES48982"},{"text":"Architectural fittings","id":"THES48994"},{"text":"Buddhism","id":"THES48984"}],"styles":[{"text":"Ming","id":"AAT18438"}],"collectionCode":{"text":"EAS","id":"THES48596"},"images":["2006AT4314"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"144 (VA)","id":"THES49866"},"free":"","case":"1","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Roof tile","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Shanxi","id":"x29907"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1500-1644","earliest":"1500-01-01","latest":"1644-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"44","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"44","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"25","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Stoneware architectural fitting in the shape of a lion, with lead glazes, Ming dynasty, ca. 1500-1644","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"HZ03122019: 獅坐蓮花燈台?","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"lion (animal)","id":"x34863"},{"text":"canopy","id":"x43016"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"Flag-staff holder, \r\nin form of a lion\r\nC.94-1913","date":{"text":"pre 1994","earliest":null,"latest":"1993-12-31"}},{"text":"Roof decoration in form of a lion pedestal\r\nMing dynasty, 15th-17th century\r\nC.94-1913\r\nThis creature acted as the base to a canopied throne, on which a figure of the Bodhisattva Manjusri would originally have sat. Manjusri, Bodhisattva of wisdom, was said to have resided at Wutai shan in Shanxi province. Wutai shan is the northernmost of four famous Buddhist mountain pilgrimage sites in China. The whole tilework ensemble would originally have been placed on the topmost ridge of a Buddhist temple.","date":{"text":"1994","earliest":"1994-01-01","latest":"1994-12-31"}},{"text":"Architectural fitting shaped as a lion \r\nChina, Shanxi, 1500-1700\r\nStoneware with lead glazes\r\nC.94-1913\r\nA vase or another Buddhist emblem was originally fitted on the back of the lion; the figure was part of an elaborate finial at the top of the roof ridge","date":{"text":"2008","earliest":"2008-01-01","latest":"2008-12-31"}}],"partNumbers":["C.94-1913"],"accessionNumberNum":"94","accessionNumberPrefix":"C","accessionYear":1913,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":["2019LP3429","2019LV3399","2019LW7627"],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-09","recordCreationDate":"2008-09-23","availableToBook":false}}