Fo Dog

Pair of Fo dogs with ribbons and prunus Shiwan sandstone South China, Foshan, Shiwan Kilns, late 19th Early 20th century Male and female couple, the latter identifiable by the small puppy on which one of its front legs rests. Fô dogs are mythical beasts, part dog, part lion: the male places his paw on a ball symbolizing the world and the female holds her puppy. The two figures look at the viewer with their dilated pupils. They are designed as a mirror. Polychromy in refined tones the ears are intact which is rare in this type of piece The town of Shiwan, located north of Hong Kong, has been famous for its ceramics since the Tang (618-907) and Song (960-1279) dynasties ), it flourished during the Ming (1368 - 1644) and Qing (1644 - 1912) periods). Guardian lions or Chinese imperial guardian lions, traditionally called in Chinese simply shi "lion"), and often called "lions of Fo" or "dogs of Fo" in the West are a common representation of the lion in the Imperial Chinr Lion statues Guardians have traditionally been located in front of Chinese imperial palaces, imperial tombs, administrative buildings, temples, residences of officials and the wealthy classes since the Han dynasty (206 BC - 220 AD). VS.). They were believed to have protective powers. They also appear in other artistic contexts, for example on knockers and in pottery. Lions (Fo dogs) were placed in front of the entrances to houses or public buildings to protect the place from evil spirits. Pairs of guardian lion statues are still common decorative and symbolic elements at the entrance to restaurants, hotels, supermarkets and other structures today, with one sitting on either side of the entrance, in China and abroad. other places around the world where Chinese people have immigrated and settled, particularly in local Asian neighborhoods. Lions are usually depicted in pairs, with the male resting his paw on a decorated ball (which, in an imperial context, represents supremacy over the world) and a female holding a lion cub (representing nurturing). Lions (Fo dogs) were placed in front of the entrances to houses or public buildings to protect the place from evil spirits.