A sandstone kang stone, used to close the oven's firing gate. Shanxi province, Gaoping or Changzhi county, 18th C. The frontside is decorated with a lion, the backside with a horn adorned with ribbons, an important religious symbol. This is an older example as is shown by the accolade shaped decoration on the base. The base has suffered from use, shows wear and one corner (front right) has been repaired with some cement. Dim.: WxDxH 37x12x29cm.