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 lion, playing with a ball. The back is left plain. At the base corners are missing due to intense use. The “step" at both upper ends are much more typical for the 18th then for the 19th C. Dim.: WxDxH 38x12x30cm.