Lion (Left) at HSBC, Canary Wharf, London

myminifactory

The iconic lion sculptures that adorn various headquarters and branch buildings of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation and its parent company HSBC Group are instantly recognizable landmarks in Hong Kong, Shanghai, and London. Commissioned for the rebuilt HSBC Building on the Bund in Shanghai, opened in 1923, these majestic creatures have become an integral part of each city's scenery. The first set of lion sculptures was cast by J W Singer & Sons in Frome, England, to a design by renowned artist Henry Poole RA. The lions were inspired by the imposing beasts outside the Venetian Arsenal, and their creator, Alexander Stephen, had them sculpted as early as 1921. According to Stephen's own account, he drew inspiration from the Arsenal's lions, which he felt embodied power and prosperity. These original lions quickly gained popularity among locals in Shanghai, who would affectionately stroke their fur in the hopes of rubbing off some of that power and wealth. They became known as "Stephen" and "Stitt," a nickname that stuck due to the fact that they were named after two influential bankers: A G Stephen, former Manager of Shanghai and Chief Manager of HSBC, and G H Stitt, then Manager of Shanghai. The Hong Kong lions are also affectionately referred to as "Stephen" and "Stitt," with the latter sporting bullet or shrapnel scars in its left hindquarters from the Battle of Hong Kong. When the HSBC business was reorganized into the present-day HSBC Group, the company's headquarters were relocated to London. The new headquarters building at 8 Canada Square, within the Canary Wharf development on the Isle of Dogs, opened in 2002 and features a pair of lions that are virtually identical to their Hong Kong counterparts. Cast by Bronze Age Foundry in nearby Limehouse, these sculptures were created under the direction of Zambian-born New Zealand sculptor Mark Kennedy. However, unlike their predecessors, the London lions do not bear any battle scars. Instead, they have been tasked with earning their own battle honors through time and experience. As such, they stand as a testament to the enduring spirit of HSBC's iconic lion sculptures, which continue to symbolize strength and prosperity in every corner of the globe.