A group of 3 Chinese carved stone guardian lions dating from the 19th century. The guardian lions include 2 males and 1 female. All statues are on bases and are painted red and gold. Dimensions are: 6 1/2 inches tall X 6 3/4 inches wide; 16.5 cm tall X 17.1 cm wide. All measurements are approximate. Condition: Scattered chips; breaks throughout; chipping to the paint. Provenance: From the estate of John Calvin Ferguson, a well-known American scholar of Chinese art, a collector and procurer for American art museums, and a Chinese government advisor. Mr. Ferguson first went to China in 1887 and stayed until 1943. He was the founder and first president of Nanjing University in 1888. He also founded Jiaotong University, in Shanghai, in 1902. He collected many important Chinese arts and antiques, some of which are currently in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City and the Nanjing University Museum.