Tang Dynasty, 7th /10th. Century. CEThe impressive male and female inward-facing guardian lions, poised in heraldry, and carved from blocks of grayish-white granite with flecks of black mineral deposit; the female with her right paw resting on her cub, the male with his left paw atop a sphere, each lion’s face with a difference in proportion, and with features that vary slightly; his muscular, rounder in shape and forward projecting, hers of somewhat elongated and rectangular shape, , both share the stylized features of a forehead carved as a scrolled ridge, and large open eyes with back-pointing brows, the male, with open mouth barring a pair of upper incisors and a row of human-like teeth, she with mouth closed, his ears lying atop a full mane, carved with scrolled layered tufts of hair with additional long strands resting on his back. Both with outward positioned fluffy tails.Height 35 in., Width 48 in., Depth 17 in