Chinese Pixiu Guardian, Bringer of Wealth

Mid-announcement, a glossy red-brown lion-dog crouches with its mouth open.

This pixiu guardian, bringer of wealth is from China, and is contemporary. It is boxwood. Boxwood is a dense, fine-grained wood long favored in China for small carvings, since it holds detail well and takes a smooth finish. Deeply carved curls form the mane and shaggy fur, with bulging eyes and bared teeth on the lifted head. A small cub huddles at the back, and the polished finish deepens to near black in the folds. It is 2.38 inches wide, 1.63 deep and 1.88 high.

All bark, though politely carved to be silent.