(2) Antique Chinese Carved, Lacquered, and Gilt Wood Foo Dogs. Mirrored images of the same fierce face and protective symbols, with brackets on the back for hanging on either side of a front door to protect the house. Likely made in the late 19th Century. 

Size: 3 x 7 x 3 1/4 in. 

Imperial Guardian Lions are a traditional Chinese architectural ornament whose origins lie deep in much older Indian Buddhist traditions. Typically made of stone, they are also known as stone lions or shishi, and in colloquial English as lion dogs or foo dogs. Usually a pair of highly stylized lions, often one male with a ball which represents the material elements and one female with a cub which represents the element of spirit, they were thought to protect the building from harmful spiritual influences and people that might be a threat. Used originally in imperial Chinese palaces and tombs, the lions subsequently spread to other parts of Asia including Japan, Korea, Vietnam, and the Philippines, as well as guarding homes, hotels, restaurants and more in European, African and American countries with large Asian immigrant populations.

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