The Lion King

Indonesia

A monumental recumbent lion, resolved through mass, incision, and controlled tension within a grounded form.

Description

Carved in teak, the lion is held low to the ground with forelegs extended and the head raised. The jaws open in a sustained, fixed expression, with individually articulated teeth; the head turns slightly off axis, introducing a measured tension within the otherwise stable structure.

The body is continuous and forward-weighted, the mass carried through the forequarters and drawn along the spine into the hind legs. The tail curves back into the composition, returning the movement inward and closing the form.

Surface is worked through dense, directional incision, describing mane, limbs, and flank in a continuous system of cuts that follow the underlying musculature. These incised zones contrast with more broadly modelled areas of the torso, where volume is allowed to read without interruption. The distinction is structural, separating areas of articulation from those of mass.

The eyes are inlaid with amber-toned elements, set within deeply carved sockets, forming concentrated points of contrast against the matte surface.

The teak retains a warm, even patina, with subtle tonal variation and light wear along projecting elements consistent with handling.

Context

Within 20th-century Indonesian workshop carving, large-scale animal figures are defined by control rather than subject.

Here, the composition remains disciplined: the open jaw is contained within the overall mass, and the incised surface is consistently aligned with the structure of the body. The balance between carved articulation and retained volume determines the clarity of the work.

Provenance

Roberto Lorenzelli Collection, Italy

Collected in Indonesia, 1980

Available on private enquiry.