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Pair of Fire-Gilded Bronze Temple Lions – Singha (ca. 1800–1850)

Name: Pair of Fire-Gilded Bronze Temple Lions – Singha (ca. 1800–1850)
Brand: 1stBuddha
SKU: 333
Price: 2500 EUR
Availability: InStock

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SKU

333

Old Pair of Fire-Gilded Bronze Temple Lions – Nepal, Kathmandu Valley (ca. 1800–1850)

Authentic hand-cast bronze guardian lions (Simha type) from the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal. Both figures were originally fire-gilded with 24 kt gold applied by traditional mercury-amalgam technique. Under UV and microscopic examination, remains of the original gilding and characteristic crystalline oxidation are visible throughout.

The surfaces show deep natural patina in green, brown, and copper tones with embedded salt and mineral deposits, confirming long-term ritual exposure. Each lion displays a symbolic male anatomical detail — a traditional representation of yang vitality and protective energy in Himalayan art.

Origin: Nepal (Kathmandu Valley)

Date: ca. 1800–1850

Material: Fire-gilded bronze with ritual core residues

Sizes / Weights:

a) Light green patina – H 42 × W 18 cm, 3.6 kg

b) Dark green patina – H 43 × W 18 cm, 3.8 kg

Total weight: 7.4 kg

€2,500.00

TAX2 – Valuation Summary

The pair was examined under ultraviolet and microscopic magnification using museum-grade analytical methods. Both sculptures are cast in a copper-based bronze alloy by traditional lost-wax technique, with clear evidence of ancient oxidation, salt inclusions and residual gilding compounds.

The surface shows remains of original 24 kt gold leaf, applied by traditional mercury-amalgam technique. The gilded areas exhibit the characteristic fine-grained texture and deep golden hue consistent with high-purity gold.

Each figure retains a stratified natural patina with green and brown oxidation, confirming long-term ritual exposure. The internal cavities contain mineral and salt deposits, typical of authentic Himalayan bronzes.

Origin: Nepal, Kathmandu Valley

Date: ca. 1800 – 1850

Material: Fire-gilded bronze (copper-based alloy)

Condition: Original surfaces with naturally worn gilding; no modern restoration

Dimensions: 42–43 cm high (pair total 7.4 kg)

Retail Valuation (1stbuddha): € 3 000 – € 4 200

Pair of Fire-Gilded Bronze Temple Lions – Singha (ca. 1800–1850)

In stock

Description

Pair of Fire-Gilded Bronze Temple Lions – Nepal, Kathmandu Valley (ca. 1800–1850)

A finely matched pair of antique bronze guardian lions (Simha type) from the Kathmandu Valley in Nepal, cast during the late 18th to early 19th century. Both figures were originally fire-gilded with 24 kt gold applied by the traditional mercury-amalgam technique. The gilding now survives mainly in protected recesses, visible under UV and microscopic examination.

Each lion is hand-cast in a copper-based alloy using the lost-wax method, with subtle surface variations and a naturally stratified multi-layer patina in green, brown and copper tones. Traces of salt and mineral deposits inside the bodies confirm long-term ritual use and exposure. Both figures display a small anatomical detail beneath the belly — a symbolic expression of yang vitality and protective energy typical of Nepalese temple guardians.

Attribution and Stylistic Analysis

Although stylistically related to the Chinese Foo Dog tradition, these sculptures differ markedly in their technical and aesthetic character. Several diagnostic features identify the pair as Nepalese (Kathmandu Valley) rather than Chinese:

Casting Technique:
The underside shows a single central core support and rough internal surface typical of Nepalese lost-wax casting. Chinese Qing bronzes of similar size are usually multi-part or lathe-finished inside.
Alloy and Patina:
The copper-rich alloy produces a warm reddish-brown oxidation under the green patina, consistent with Himalayan bronzes. The presence of salt and calcite residues within the cavities indicates a ritual environment, not a decorative export context.
Surface Detailing:
The manes and ornament bands were engraved by hand after casting, with irregular punch marks and asymmetry characteristic of hand-tool work from Kathmandu workshops. Qing-period Foo Dogs typically show more mechanical, repetitive linework.
Iconographic Freedom:
Both lions are male and include a naturalistic anatomical feature symbolizing life-force (prāṇa or rlung). Such symbolic realism is common in Nepalese and Tibetan guardian sculptures but absent from Chinese imperial models.
Comparative Evidence:
Similar stylistic and technical traits appear in 18th–19th-century temple lions from Patan and Bhaktapur, several examples preserved in the Patan Museum and private Kathmandu collections.