HSBC lions
| Industry | Sculpture / Corporate landmarks |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1923 |
| Headquarters | Multiple locations including Hong Kong, Shanghai, London, Birmingham , China, United Kingdom |
| Products | Bronze lion statues |
Multiple HSBC headquarters and branch locations display pairs of lion statues, which have become emblematic landmarks in cities such as Hong Kong and Shanghai, with additional pairs found in London and Birmingham.
Shanghai (1923)
The inaugural lion sculptures were created for the reconstructed HSBC Building on the Bund in 1923. Alexander Stephen, then Chief Manager, drew inspiration from the lions guarding the Venetian Arsenal.
These lions were crafted by J W Singer & Sons in Frome and designed by Henry Poole RA, quickly becoming an integral part of Shanghai’s cultural landscape. Local residents believed touching the lions brought good fortune, associating them with strength and prosperity. Named Stephen and Stitt after HSBC executives Alexander Gordon Stephen and Gordon Holmes Stitt, each lion reflected their namesake’s character—Stephen depicted roaring, while Stitt appeared serene.
Hong Kong (1935)
For its third headquarters at 1 Queen's Road Central, inaugurated in 1935, HSBC commissioned a pair of bronze lions from British sculptor WW Wagstaff in Shanghai. Though inspired by the Shanghai originals, these statues were distinct and produced in collaboration with local artisan Chou Yin Hsiang.
These Hong Kong lions came to represent HSBC’s robust presence in the market and were regarded as bringers of luck according to feng shui principles. After the 1935 building’s closure in 1981, the lions were temporarily moved to Statue Square before being returned to their current site following feng shui consultations.
During World War II, Japanese forces seized the lions intending to melt them down; however, they were recovered undamaged in Osaka by an American sailor in 1945 and restored to Hong Kong by October 1946.
Also named Stephen (left) and Stitt (right), the lions bear visible shrapnel marks from the 1941 Battle of Hong Kong. Notably, Stitt was set ablaze during pro-democracy demonstrations on 1 January 2020 after HSBC froze an account linked to protest funding.
London (2002)
After HSBC restructured into its current Group form, its headquarters relocated to London. The new main office at 8 Canada Square, Canary Wharf, opened in 2002. A pair of lions closely resembling the Hong Kong originals and bearing signatures of sculptor W.W. Wagstaff were commissioned. These statues were cast at Bronze Age Foundry in Limehouse under Zambian-born New Zealand artist Mark Kennedy and deliberately created without the “battle scars” seen on the Hong Kong lions to represent fresh challenges.
Shanghai (2010)
In 2010, HSBC ordered another set of lion replicas for its China headquarters situated within the Shanghai IFC building in Lujiazui financial district, positioned opposite the former Shanghai headquarters.
List of HSBC lion statue re-casts
Prominent bronze reproductions and recastings of HSBC lion statues include:
- In Hong Kong:
- Hong Kong (current) (1935) – modeled after Shanghai originals; sculpted by W W Wagstaff, cast by Shanghai Arts and Crafts.
- Hong Kong (replicas) (2015) – replicas created to mark HSBC’s 150th anniversary.
- In Shanghai:
- Shanghai (original) (1923) – designed by Henry Poole RA, cast by J W Singer & Sons; originals now housed at Shanghai History Museum.
- Shanghai (replicas) (circa 1997) – copies of original Shanghai lions commissioned by state-owned Shanghai Pudong Development Bank.
- Shanghai (current) (2010) – replicas based on Hong Kong lion statues.
- In the United Kingdom:
- London (2001) – reproductions of Hong Kong lions; cast at Bronze Age Foundry under Mark Kennedy.
- Birmingham (2018) – copies modeled after Hong Kong lions.
Several other HSBC branches worldwide display guardian lion figures—often smaller versions of either the Shanghai or Hong Kong statues—while some incorporate alternative designs such as traditional Chinese guardian lions.
Rainbow Lions
In 2016, HSBC introduced two replicas of its famous lions at its Hong Kong headquarters, painted in rainbow colors to show support for LGBT rights. Created by Michael Lam, the lion named Stephen was decorated with stripes, while Stitt featured circular patterns. After shareholders, including Roger Wong Wai-ming, initiated an online petition, the rainbow lions were taken down. They were subsequently transferred to the Philippine Global Service Center located in Commonwealth, Quezon City.
Influence
The iconic lions in Hong Kong serve as prominent symbols for HSBC, appearing on Hong Kong dollar banknotes and contributing to the bank’s local moniker, "the Lion Bank." Since a redesign in 2017, these lions have also been displayed on all HSBC credit and debit cards.
The unique style of these lions has sparked a trend of mass-produced architectural sculptures throughout China. Often labeled as "HSBC lions" (汇丰狮) by local producers without official permission from HSBC, these imitations are frequently sold to various banks and financial institutions within the region.