Lion (one of a pair) 1727 - 1737

Editor: So, this stately fellow is "Lion (one of a pair)," crafted from porcelain by the Meissen Manufactory sometime between 1727 and 1737. He resides at The Met. He looks, dare I say, a little… startle. What do you make of it? Curator: Oh, absolutely! There's a vulnerability in his gaze that throws a curveball, doesn't it? It’s like they caught him mid-thought, or perhaps mid-nap interrupted by a rogue butterfly. Baroque art often leans toward grandeur and strength, but Meissen manages to imbue this king of beasts with a touch of charming befuddlement. I see a bit of myself in him on Monday mornings. Does the porcelain medium affect how you view the sculpture? Editor: It does, actually! It feels much more delicate and precious than if he were carved from marble, for example. A powerful, but still breakable, king. Curator: Precisely! That tension, between inherent power and potential fragility, is what makes it sing, at least for me. Imagine the sheer skill involved in molding porcelain into such a lifelike form, and then firing it without shattering. It's a high-wire act performed with clay and fire. A bit dangerous, perhaps. What's your biggest takeaway? Editor: It definitely subverts my expectations of Baroque sculpture! I expected the imposing majesty of a lion, but he has more complexity than I first thought. Curator: See? Art sneaking up and nudging us out of our comfort zones – best feeling, ever. Now, off to find a porcelain dragon, maybe?