{"product_id":"chinese-guardian-lion-grey-granite-statue-180cm","title":"Chinese Guardian Lion Grey Granite Statue - 180cm","description":"\u003ch3\u003eDescription\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eA Chinese guardian lion sits in three-quarter view with a spiral-curled mane, a strap collar carrying a bell, and one forepaw set on a cub at its side. It stands on a lotus-petal-banded cap over a plinth. The whole piece is a grey speckled granite rather than marble.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eGuardian Lion Cut in Speckled Granite\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eGranite decides the carving rather than the other way round. It will not hold the fine undercut a marble takes, so the mane is cut as bold separated curls with deep shadow between them instead of fine locks, and the spirals are broadened until they read from across a courtyard. The salt-and-pepper crystal breaks up any smooth surface, which is why the collar strap is left plain and the bell is cut simply. Nothing here relies on a fine edge.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eGranite is the choice for a position that takes weather: a coastal approach, an exposed gateway, a windy courtyard or anywhere road salt reaches. It will not sugar or dull the way marble can in those places, and the speckled grey keeps its colour rather than bleaching. It suits a modern frontage as readily as a traditional one. Set it on a level compacted bed with clear ground around it.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eWhy Granite for an Exposed Position\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eSixteen weeks, and granite accounts for the difference: every stage is slower than the same stage in marble, and the mane alone takes as long as a whole marble figure of this size. The cap and its lotus band are cut first, the body roughed with a point, then the curls separated one at a time. The cub is freed last. Our main studios are in the UK (Birmingham) and Dubai, with additional global workshops. Around 3,403kg in two pieces, craned on and bedded onto a prepared concrete footing.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOther granite figures are in \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/animal-sculptures\"\u003eanimal sculptures\u003c\/a\u003e, and the stone is grouped under \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/granite-sculptures\"\u003egranite sculptures\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eSpecification\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003ctable class=\"spec_table\"\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHeight\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e180cm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBase\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eIncluded\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMaterial\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHand-Carved Natural Granite\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\u003c\/table\u003e","brand":"Giant Sculptures","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53831404552539,"sku":"MST-ANI-004","price":26985.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0869\/3383\/2027\/files\/MST-ANI-004_1.jpg?v=1787141986","url":"https:\/\/giant-sculptures.com\/products\/chinese-guardian-lion-grey-granite-statue-180cm","provider":"Giant Sculptures","version":"1.0","type":"link"}