Pair of Emerald-Glazed Terracotta Guardian Lions (Foo Dogs) on Pedestal Bases, China, Late 19th–Early 20th Century
A commanding pair of emerald-glazed terracotta guardian lions, their wide grins and oversized ears giving them a personality as large as their presence.
ARTIST: Unknown
PERIOD: Late 19th–Early 20th Century
CATEGORY: Sculpture / Decorative Object
MATERIALS: Terracotta, emerald green glaze
DIMENSIONS: 39 h × 12½ w × 18 d in. (each, with pedestal)
CONTEXT: Guardian lions — known in the West as foo dogs — have flanked the entrances of Chinese temples, palaces, and estates for centuries, placed in pairs to ward off malevolent spirits and signal the importance of the space they protect. This pair follows the traditional convention: one figure rests a paw on a cub, denoting the female, while her counterpart presses a paw to a brocade ball, denoting the male. Both are mounted on squared pedestals incised with scrolling foliage. Their unusually large ears, wide-set eyes, and broadly grinning mouths give them an expressive individuality rarely found in more formal examples. The rich emerald glaze — applied over a terracotta body — has developed a depth and variation with age that no reproduction can replicate. Evidence of restoration over the years speaks to a long life, and both figures present with considerable strength and character.
NOTE: Available for client pickup or third-party shipper only.