Pair of Vintage Bronze Foo Dogs – Guardian Lion Statues With Ball & Cub

Details

Description

This is a handsome pair of vintage Chinese bronze guardian lions, also known as Foo Dogs or Shishi. Each lion … Read more This is a handsome pair of vintage Chinese bronze guardian lions, also known as Foo Dogs or Shishi. Each lion is seated on a tall, rectangular plinth decorated with a classic key-fret (leiwen) border. The pair is classically posed: the male lion (on the right) rests his paw on an embroidered brocade ball, symbolizing dominion over the world, while the female lion (on the left) playfully tends to a cub, representing the nurturing of future generations. Both lions feature intricately detailed curly manes, bulging eyes, open jaws with visible fangs, decorative collars with bells, and muscular bodies with pronounced spines and tails. The bronze has a rich, dark brown patina with lighter, polished highlights on the manes and facial features. One of the bases bears a cast, four-character Qianlong seal mark reading "乾隆年製" (Made in the Qianlong Period), indicating it is a vintage revival piece in the Qianlong style. A classic and auspicious pair for a collector of Asian antiques.

Dimensions & Measurements (per lion):

Height: 16 cm (approx. 6.30 inches)

Length: 8 cm (approx. 3.15 inches)

Width: 5.5 cm (approx. 2.17 inches)

Total Weight (pair):

approx. 1.70 kg (approx. 3.75 lbs / 60 oz) See less