A sandstone kang stone, used to close the oven's firing gate. Shanxi province, Gaoping or Changzhi county, 18th or 19th century. The frontside is decorated with a scaled mythical beast, the backside is plain. The accolade-shaped line at the lower end of the base and the shape of the drums at both ends indicate that it’s rather early; I prefer 18th over 19th C. Some damage at the right lower end corner. Dim.: WxDxH 34x12x25cm.