A LARGE AUBERGINE-GLAZED BUDDHIST LION, KANGXI China, 1662-1722. The powerful, seated lion is shown with a string of spiral-shaped tassels tied around its broad chest and paws. The body is entirely covered with a deep qiepi zi monochrome glaze and neatly incised with blazing flames. Provenance: From an English collection. Condition: Good condition with old wear, few firing cracks and two almost invisible hairlines. The tip of the tongue with a minor repair. Weight: 4.6 kg Dimensions: Height 31 cm The mouth is wide open to reveal four menacing fangs. The nostrils are pierced, enabling the use of this model both as a night light or as a censer. Pure aubergine enamel is rarely found as a monochrome glaze. It was made from a byproduct extracted during the purification process of cobalt, when this was processed into a pure sapphire blue. Different shades of aubergine from intense 'brinjal' purple, such as in the present model, to light watery purple were made from the cobalt-iron-manganese ore mixed with lead and quartz sand. Auction result comparison: Compare with a model of a cat serving as night light at Sotheby's London in Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, 05 November 2008, lot 309, bought in at an estimate of GBP £6,000 to GBP £8,000. 大型茄紫釉佛獅，康熙 中國，1662-1722。 極有氣勢的獅子在其寬闊的胸部和爪子上綁著一串螺旋狀的流蘇，全身覆蓋著深厚且潤澤的茄子紫單色釉。 來源：英國私人收藏 品相：品相良好，老磨損，些微燒製時產生的開片，兩道几不可見的髮絲綫裂縫。舌尖稍有修補。 重量：4.6 公斤 尺寸：高31 厘米