Rare Late 18th to 19th century Carved Ivory Handle of Lion Devouring Christian Martyr

*This item can only be shipped to domestic Australian addresses*

This extraordinary antique Chinese export ivory cane handle is unlike anything we have ever seen. Depicting a lion devouring a maiden, this unusual iconography and distinctive carving style suggests that it was carved circa late 18th to mid-19th century in China, likely Canton, for the Western export trade. 

Such imagery, intended to depict early Christian martyrdom, was highly popular in the 18th to 19th century. Edward Gibbon’s Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (1776-1789) sparked a backlash due to its nuanced take on early Christian conflicts, and art depicting early Christianity martyrdom enjoyed a consequential surge in popularity. One particularly popular motif was damnatio ad bestias, which depicted early Christians being thrown to wild beasts in Roman arenas; the lion, with its later Christian meaning, was seen as particularly poignant if not somewhat ironic. 

A rare exquisite piece, this cane handle is not one to be missed. 

Price marked at $3800 AUD. 

Measurements: 10.5cm high, 5cm approx. diameter at widest point.

Very good antique condition. Some stable hairline cracks and overall wear commensurate with antique ivory that has been used.