A Pair of Guardian Spirits Tang Dynasty (618-907)Height 30 ½ inches, 77 cm. and 31 inches, 78
A Pair of Guardian Spirits Tang Dynasty (618-907)Height 30 ½ inches, 77 cm. and 31 inches, 78,5 cm.One of the pair with a humanoid face, seated with front legs extended, the cloven hooves firmly planted on the ground, the head with large distended ears, and fierce eyes beneath deeply furrowed brows and curled tufts of hair around the chin. A fantastic, spiraled horn sprouts from its head, with smaller horns to either side, a prominent, bifurcated thunder bolt projects from the back of the head. The creature has feathered wings atop each shoulder with a row of flanges behind and a line of serrated scales down its back. The other with leonine features, seated on its haunches, rests on three sharp talons with one claw dynamically raised above the head, mouth agape bearing fangs, with bulging eyes beneath heavy brows from which extend two long curling horns, with rows of flame-like finials emanating from the shoulders, the back of the neck and a sharp ridge of scales running along the spine. -- source link
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