【Important notes】 ・International buyers are responsible for any import duties, taxes, and charges not included in the item price or shipping cost. Please note that VAT paid to Catawiki is separate from and does not cover import duties or customs charges in your country. You may still be required to pay additional fees upon delivery, as determined by your local customs authorities. ・Shipping Details: Most items are shipped via Japan Post EMS (airmail). If you are in a hurry, we can arrange shipping via DHL or FedEx upon request for an additional fee. ・Damage and Issues: If you receive a damaged item, please contact us immediately. The damage must be reported to your local post office within 7 days of delivery, and promptly to us and Catawiki support. 【Product details】 This exceptional 19-20th-century wooden sculpture depicts a powerful and dynamic lion dance performance. Carved entirely by hand with outstanding detail, the work features a pair of shishi (lion heads) in motion. When viewing the open mouths, the carved faces of the performers can be seen inside—faithfully representing the traditional structure of the lion dance, in which a dancer wears and animates the lion head from within. This clever and sophisticated carving technique brings a strong sense of realism and theatrical presence to the piece. In Chinese and Japanese tradition, shishi embody protection, strength, and the ability to drive away negative forces. The lion dance is performed to purify a space, dispel harmful spirits, and usher in good fortune, making this sculpture not only visually striking but deeply symbolic. The surface shows natural wear and patina appropriate for its age. Notably, there is a large crack on the face of one of the lions. There are also other scattered scratches, drying cracks, small losses, and several areas with old adhesive repairs. Two bells on the left lion are missing. The wooden base exhibits signs of age, including wood chips, scratches, scuffs, and areas of lacquer loss. Please note that the left lion does not sit completely flush on the mounting peg and remains slightly raised. Please review the photos for full details of the condition. Dimensions: approx. H 69 cm W 90.5 cm D 41.5 cm ・Please make sure to review all the provided information and images before placing your bid. ・We make every effort to accurately represent the product's colors and textures in our photos. However, due to differences in monitors and device displays, as well as photographic conditions, slight color variations between the photos and the actual product may occur. We ask for your understanding in advance. Thank you for your interest, and happy bidding!