Chinese Hand Carved Pixiu

On display, a fat, curled beast with a snarling face tucked into a rounded body.

This hand carved pixiu is from China, and dates to the late 19th or early 20th century. It is boxwood. The pixiu is a winged, lion-like creature of Chinese tradition, generally understood to guard against evil and to attract fortune, and it is often shown without a visible opening below. Looking closer, a compact carved creature with its legs and tail curled around a plump, rounded body. The face glares from the front with bulging brows and bared teeth, and scrolling curls decorate the shoulders. The finish is a deep, glossy reddish brown. It is 2.75 inches wide, 1.88 deep and 1.5 high.

Snarling in a ball, which is its own kind of confidence.