A sandstone kang stone, used to close the oven's firing gate. Shanxi province, Gaoping or Changzhi county, 18th or 19th century. One side is decorated with a flower in a roundel, the other side shows a lion. The ends have been made wider than the centre to keep the weight low yet the stone stable. The side with the lion has been suffering from use and shows losses. One broken piece has been re-fastened. Dim.: WxDxH 42x14x25cm.