A striking pair of reddish orange painted antique porcelain foo dog statues, made during the *Qing Dynasty* 19th century. These figures measures 9.5 inches high, 6.5 inches long, 4.75 inches wide.

*The Qing Dynasty was the final imperial dynasty in China, lasting from 1644 to 1912. It was an era noted for its initial prosperity and tumultuous final years.

Known in colloquial English as lion dogs or foo dogs (pronounced fu-dogs) The concept, which originated and became popular in Chinese Buddhism, features a pair of highly stylized lions—often one male with a ball and one female with a cub—which were thought to protect it’s owner from harmful spiritual influences and harmful people that might be a threat. Statues of guardian lions have traditionally stood in front of Chinese Imperial palaces, Imperial tombs, government offices, temples, and the homes of government officials and the wealthy, and were believed to have powerful mythic protective benefits.