Vintage Hand Carved Genuine SOAPSTONE Chinese FOO LIONS Guardian FU DOG Bookends

Description

Absolutely beautiful
quality
set of male and female Chinese Foo Lions (or sometimes, Fu) Dog hand carved from solid blocks of top-quality soapstone. The craftsmanship of the carving is so much better than the knock-off copies of resin or concrete you see so often. The soapstone is beautifully striated throughout the carvings and is genuine soapstone, discernable by the smooth, waxy feel when rubbed and by its soft luster. Like jade and like hematite, genuine soapstone feels cool to the touch; hold a piece up to your cheek and feel how much cooler it seems than the temperature of the room. The pair is in perfect condition with no chips, cracks, or scratches.
The magnificent carvings stand (sit, actually) 7 ½” tall on their pedestals of 4 ¾” L by 3” W. The female carving weighs 4 lbs, 14.5 ounces and the male weighs 4 lbs, 14.7 ounces. If you are wondering which is which, you can tell by looking at the object under the Foo Dog Lion’s raised paw; the female always has her paw resting on a Foo Dog Lion pup and the male’s paw is resting on a ball. The pup and ball show the same fine carving – the ball is embroidered, which in Chinese imperial context represents supremacy over the world, and the pup is carved on its back, playing with its mother’s paw, denoting nurturing and the cycle of life.
These Foos are expertly hand carved with intricate detail; the hair on the manes and face is carved hair by hair, each tuft of the mane is individually shaped, and you can even see the claws carved on the paws. The mouths are open (knock-offs often have one or both closed as that is less work and therefore cheaper to produce) and even the teeth are individually shaped. The base too is decorated with a carved cloth folded under the Foo, decorated with an apple blossom on the fold. These are guardian Foos, originating in Chinese Buddhism and used to guard temples, tombs, and palaces or abodes from evil influences or harmful people. From China, the Foos spread to other Asian countries and are today admired for their strength and grace as well as protective qualities.
The Foos sit on solid bases, not hollow, with six felt pads on the bottom to prevent furniture scratching. I have owned them for about thirty-five years. They were carved as a set of bookends, so combine beauty with usefulness. They are an impressive pair and would be a wonderful Christmas present for the collector of Chinese art, hand-carved artifacts, Foo Lions, or minerals like soapstone.
Please check my seller’s feedback and bid with confidence. The Foos will be carefully packed, double-boxed separately inside the shipping box for a shipping weight of 11lbs, 7 ounces. They will be mailed Parcel Select with no charge for packing.
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