Indian Door Lintel with Lion Head Motif

Two copper-dotted eyes and a lolling tongue make this lion look more mischievous than fierce.

This door lintel with lion head motif is Jain, from Kutch District, Gujarat, India, and dates to the 18th century. It is carved marble. A lion or grotesque face over a doorway is a familiar guardian figure in the temple architecture of western India, generally meant to turn away harm at the threshold. This lintel end is carved from dark grey marble. The face has rounded eyes inset with small metal dots, scrolled brows, a chevron leaf at the forehead, a band of square teeth and a long tongue hanging from the mouth. It is 8 inches wide, 19 deep and 6 high.

Fierce, in a friendly sort of way.