Lion-dog (Shishi)

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

White ceramic sculpture of a mythical creature. The creature has a dog-like body and a lion-like head. The head is facing the camera with an open mouth showing two top fangs. The creature is crouched down on all fours. The back legs and tail are stretched out behind it. The tail is curved upward. The back has a large tuft of fur. The fur around the face, legs, and tail are curly. The background is gray with a darker shade at the top and a lighter shade at the bottom.