Lion 19th century

Editor: Here we have a small 19th-century ceramic sculpture entitled "Lion," housed here at the Met. I'm really struck by how it feels both regal and almost… cartoonish, with those metallic glints on its body. What do you make of it? Curator: Cartoonish, yes, like a character escaped from a porcelain fairytale! It tickles me that you see that. I wonder, does the size – so diminutive, really – contribute to that effect? This piece winks at grandeur, doesn't it? Lions are these massive symbols of power, but here, tamed into domestic cuteness. What sort of conversation is the artist trying to initiate by shrinking the all-powerful? Editor: That’s interesting! So, are you saying it’s playing with our expectations? It feels more decorative than profound. Curator: Perhaps the very definition of "decorative" can be profound, no? These objects weren't created in a vacuum; someone believed a gilded lion would bring beauty – or perhaps even luck, status – to their home. Who decided that function removes beauty? That beauty can't transform your mundane? Also, where did the artist acquire those gorgeous, golden hues? Don’t you want to paint all ceramic animals this way? Editor: I do now! It definitely makes you reconsider what decorative art can be. Curator: Exactly! And to never underestimate the roar of a tiny lion. Editor: I'll keep that in mind; thank you.