Traditional Chinese Lions (Indianapolis Zoo)
Traditional Chinese Lions (Indianapolis Zoo) | |
---|---|
Year | 1988 |
Type | White Marble |
Dimensions | 130 cm × 62 cm × 97 cm (53 in × 24.5 in × 38 in) |
Location | Indianapolis, Indiana, United States |
39°45′59.48″N 86°10′38.63″W / 39.7665222°N 86.1773972°W | |
Owner | Indianapolis Zoo |
Traditional Chinese Lions is a public artwork located at the entrance to the
Description
The sculpture is made of two stylized Chinese lions set on pedestals, facing each other. The female lion on the west holds a little cub in her arms. The male lion on the east plays with an embroidery ball. The lions represent luck and happiness.
A
- In memory of the establishment
- of Province - State relations of
- friendship between the Province
- of Zhejiang, the Peoples Repub-
- lic of China and the State of/
- Indiana, the United States
- Governor Shen Zulun
- Zhejiang Province
- P. R. China
- January 1988
A gold inscription on the proper left side of the base of the male lion, in simplified Chinese characters, reads[2]
- 中华人民共和国浙江省与美利坚合
- 众国印第安纳州建立友好关系纪念
- 浙江省省长 沈祖伦
- 一九八八年元月
which has a very similar meaning to the message on the other base.[1] This is followed by the name of the company-manufacturer of the statues, which unfortunately is not very legible now.[2]
Condition
The Traditional Chinese Lions were surveyed in December 1992, as part of the Indiana Survey for the Smithsonian Institution's Save Outdoor Sculpture initiative. At the time their condition was described as, "treatment urgent." A September 2009 evaluation[by whom?] found the sculptures to be in poor condition, with multiple large cracks and numerous smaller fractures throughout, as well as repaired losses in the marble.[1]
Reciprocal gift
As a reciprocal gift, Governor Orr of Indiana offered Zhejiang a statue of an
See also
- Chinese guardian lions
- American Bison (sculpture)
- North American Plains Animals (sculpture)
References
- ^ a b c Save Outdoor Sculpture, Indiana Survey (1992). "Pair of Traditional Chinese Lions (sculpture)". SIRIS. Smithsonian Institution. Retrieved 7 April 2010.
- ^ a b Photo
- ^ Orpha Weimer, A Bison for China. NMHS Newsletter, May 1989. Based on an article in The Times-Mail, Bedford, Indiana