Pair of Terracotta Guardian Lions on Pedestals – Late 19th Century

$13,000

A pair of hand-modeled terracotta guardian lions, each rendered in a classical recumbent pose with deeply carved manes and expressive, individually worked faces. One lion is alert and open-mouthed, the other more subdued in repose. The warm, weathered terracotta surface shows the hand of the maker throughout, with visible tool marks and natural variation in tone consistent with age and studio production. Late 19th century in origin, the pair carries the presence of European garden or estate statuary, scaled for a grand entryway, library, or garden loggia.

Each lion sits atop a custom made tall, stepped wooden pedestal with molded cornice and paneled sides, elevating the pair to commanding height. The pedestals were made after the lions, likely 20th-century fabrications. The terracotta itself is in sound condition. Wear is limited to the wooden pedestal, which shows some minor denting in the veneer at the top molding, visible in detail photos and consistent with age and use. A striking, sculptural set for a collector drawn to classical garden ornament with real age and hand-formed character.