Pair of stone guardians, China, Ming Dynasty, 1368-1644

Description A pair of stone guardians from China, Ming Dynasty (1368–1644) depicts two standing male figures, conceived as protective statues likely intended for the entrance of a funerary complex, a temple, or an official building. The guardians are sculpted in a vigilant and solemn posture, with their bodies slightly rotated and legs apart, suggesting stability and readiness. The facial expressions are severe and concentrated, with marked eyebrows, prominent eyes, and closed mouths, elements that accentuate their apotropaic role, i.e., defense against evil forces. They wear richly worked ceremonial garments, with stylized armor on the bust, knotted belts, and deeply incised drapery falling along the legs. The details of the clothing, such as the folds of the robes and the ornaments, show robust yet attentive carving to the rhythm of the surfaces, typical of Ming stone production. The arms, bent and brought forward, seem to have originally held symbolic attributes that are now missing. The figures rest on irregular rocky bases, which reinforce the idea of strength and rootedness, while the patina of time and stone erosion testify to the antiquity of the sculptures. Dimensions HxWxD 50cm x 29cm x 21cm Provenance Private collection Condition Wear from time. Defects.