Chinese Figurines View 1

Foo dogs also known as lion dogs are guardian figures which first appeared during the Han dynasty in China. The two figures, male and female, representing yang and yin respectively, guarded the entrances to imperial palaces, tombs, government buildings, and the houses of wealthy families. The male figure has a ball or sphere beneath his paw representing supremacy over the world, while the female traditionally has a cub beneath her paw. By the 18th-century with the introduction of new materials smaller pairs became available to a wider audience. This pair features a sancai glaze, denoted by the green, yellow and eggplant coloring; along with moveable eyes.

Collection ID: TP.1972.005.005