Description: Ca. 19th century Burmese Chinthe or Guardian lion. The Chinthe is a leogryph (lion-like creature) that is often seen at the entrances of pagodas and temples in Burma. It is related to the Singha in Thailand and the Simha in Sri Lanka as well as to other similar lion statues in other parts of Asia. The chinthe and the simha are featured prominently on the Burmese kyat and the Sri Lankan rupee respectively. The chinthe will serve and protect the pagoda. Like the komainu of Japan, shisa of Okinawa and snow lion of Tibet, the chinthe is a variation of the Foo Dog Guardian Lions found in China. The casting of this piece is beautiful as you can see in the fine details of the face. Each detail is rendered perfectly. The distinctive patina of the piece is also particularly delightful.