Lot 72
East Asia, China, Qing Dynasty, ca. 1644 to 1912 CE. A pair of delightful Fu Dog effigy (Foo Dog) mold-made ceramic roof tiles. They are largely yellow and green, with colors familiar from sancai glaze, aside from their cream-colored eyes and mouths. One is posed atop a smaller animal, representing her offspring; the other atop a squash-like ball, meant to be an embroidered cloth ball; and both stand on tall, cuboid, openwork pedestals. These examples have a fascinating international history - they were brought to the United States and stood for many years on the roof of a house in New Orleans, before being salvaged after Hurricane Katrina. They reflect the international appeal of Chinese design. Size of each (they are almost identical): 8.6" L x 4" W x 10.6" H (21.8 cm x 10.2 cm x 26.9 cm)
The Fu Dog is actually a guardian lion, a common architectural protective figure in Imperial China that was originally brought to Indian culture alongside Buddhism. They are usually presented in pairs, representing the male and female, yin and yang. Symbolically, the male protects the outside and the female protects the inside of the dwelling where they sit.
Provenance: ex-Java House Imports, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA, salvaged from a Hurricane Katrina house that was going to be demolished.
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#129001
- Condition: Both are in excellent condition, with beautiful weathered surfaces with light deposits and glaze craquelure. One is more weathered than the other, with more fading to the original glaze color and some staining on the base.
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