SakshiVisibly Moved
As far as that lion statue was concerned, Mason was finding it hard to come over that even after the wrapping of the show. Canale stated, “Mason was visibly moved, both before taping the segment and immediately afterward.” He continued “It was such an important piece – one he never expected to encounter in New Mexico – that he got a little choked up. It totally caught him by surprise…”
Unexpected
Mason said, “Surprise, astonishment, and disbelief washed over me the moment the owner of a white marble lion walked up to the Asian Arts table in Albuquerque last summer.” He added further “Discovering a Tang Dynasty (618-907 A.D.) lion in such an unexpected venue, however, ranks as one of the greatest surprises of my career. It’s exceptional not only for its size (around 18 inches tall) but because of its quality and condition.”
Race Against Time
Mason had never been so enthusiastic about anything as he was after perceiving the statue. He even found it difficult to believe how a statue can be so perfect beating even the time. He maintained the statue was “smooth and unmarred by damage.” In fact, the piece did not look even that old, it looked as if it was a newly made one.
Glorifying Past
For Mason, the statue was the representer of the glorious past. He explained “One of the ways that I can tell you that it’s what it’s supposed to be…not only from the artistic aspects of it…” Mason continued “But when you look at it underneath, you can see that there is every indication of great age from the chisel-work that has taken place to the sort-of sandy surface, which is fantastic that gives you the kind of patina that you want to see.”
Great!!!
Mason explained, “Something that has been handled and has been around for a while…it’s a great thing.” It is really tough finding something so beautiful and unhurt by the time. And he had spotted one of them successfully.
Details And Intricacies
There were many things to notice about the statue but what captured Mason’s attention the most was astounding given to the details. He remembers “The craftsman treated this large sculpture in a manner more typical of carvings of much smaller size.” The surface is smooth and unmarred from damage. The details are as crisply rendered as the day it left the carver’s workshop. I told the lion’s owner that its value might be a bit more than expected…” He added. How much is it worth?