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 backside is plain. This “C” shape is much less often seen than the more common rectangular shape. Intensely used example with good age. Dim.: WxDxH 33x12x22cm.