A PAIR OF CHINESE GILT BRONZE BUDDHIST LION DOGS MING DYNASTY Seated on their haunches with their...

A PAIR OF CHINESE GILT BRONZE BUDDHIST LION DOGS MING DYNASTY Seated on their haunches with their heads turned, their ears flat and each with one paw resting on a brocade ball, the hair of the manes and tails picked out in fine detail, 18cm, 3.7kg. (2) Provenance: from the collection of Sir Beilby Alston (1868-1929), the Ambassador of the United Kingdom to China (1920-1922), and by repute gifted to him by the last Emperor of China Pu Yi, and thence by descent.