A rare small gilt-bronze seal/weight, late Ming Dynasty, 16th-17th century, heavily cast in the form of a snarling Buddhist lion wearing a bell, one paw resting on a ball, atop a square recessed platform, each side with a dorje in low relief between Buddhist symbols, 2.17 in. high, 1.26 in. square. Provenance: Sotheby's Hong Kong, 20/5/1987, Lot 632
- Ming Dynasty - The Ming Dynasty was a ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644. It succeeded the Yuan Dynasty and preceded the Qing Dynasty. The Ming Dynasty was established by Zhu Yuanzhang, a former Buddhist monk who became a rebel leader and eventually overthrew the Mongol Yuan Dynasty. During the Ming Dynasty, China experienced a period of relative stability and prosperity. The government was centralized and bureaucratic, with the emperor at the top of the hierarchy. The Ming Dynasty is known for its cultural achievements, including the development of porcelain, the invention of movable type printing, and the construction of the Great Wall of China.
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