A Pair of 17th Century Blanc de Chine Porcelain Buddhist Lions
A Large Pair of Fine Shunzhi or Kangxi Blanc de Chine Porcelain Buddhist Lions, Rui Shi or ‘Dogs of Foo’, from a Kiln in Dehua Fujian Province c.1640-1680. This pair Rui Shi (auspicious lions) are from the 17th century, however they are difficult to date accurately. Blanc de Chine Buddhist lions on rectangular plinths have been made from the mid-16th century and are still made today. This pair is unusual for two reasons, firstly they do not have the tapered nozzles associated with this model. These occur on nearly all of these Blanc de Chine lions, near the back legs, they were used for incense sticks. Most of the pairs are male and female, but this is a pair of males. They match in their details, size and decoration. I have noticed that many pairs of these Buddhist lions have their mouths depicted differently ; one with the top and lower front teeth made in one piece of porcelain, the other model with a gap between the top and bottom teeth. This is further proof, if any was needed, that these are a pair and started life together in a kiln in Fujian. Blanc de Chine Buddhist lions were used in China, they ward off evil and could be used on a family shrine. They were also popular in Europe. A pair of very ornate Blanc de Chine Buddhist lions are in the 1688 inventory of Burghley House. Under the heading “My Lords Anty Roome”… “China over ye Chimney”… “wt lyons”. See below for more details and a photograph.
See Below For More Photographs and Information.
- Condition
- Left Lion : The fragile upturned curls from the tail have been knocked off. Right Lion : One front tooth missing, one piece the tail missing. Both have some fring fault and have warped in the kiln.
- Size
- Height : 33.3 cm (the lion on the right is slightly smaller)
- Provenance
- N/A
- Stock number
- 27462
- References
- A pair of very similar Blanc de Chine lions dated to circa 1620 - 1640, are illustrated in : Blanc de Chine (Introduction by John Ayers, S.Marchant & Son, 2006. ISBN 0-9554009-0-2) page 88, plate 56. Also see a related Blanc de Chine `Foo dog` from the Hatcher Cargo, datable to circa 1643 look at stock number 19961 in our `Sold` items. For a very similar pair of male Blanc de Chine `Fu Dogs` which have been dated to c.1640 see : Blanc de Chine (John Ayres / Richard Marchant. S.Marchant and Son, 2006. London) page 49, item 56, where the author states that a similar piece in the Dehua Museum comes from a Ming Dynasty tomb. A pair dated to late Ming or early Qing are illustrated in : Blanc de Chine, Divine Images in Porcelain (John Ayres, China Institute Gallery, New York, 2002) page 98, plate 49. For another very similar single Buddhist Lion, dated as mid-17th century see : Blanc de Chine, Porcelain From Dehua. A Catalogue of the Hickley Collection (Rose Kerr & John Ayres, Art Media Resources Ltd 2002) plate 91. For a further pair of male Blanc de Chine lions dated to c.1650 -1700, inventoried in 1701, see : Blanc de Chine (P.J Donnelly, Faber and Faber, 1969) plate 93. For a pair of similar male Blanc de Chine lions see our `Sold` items stock number 20344.
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Photos
Information
Blanc de Chine Dogs of Foo or Buddhist Lions / Rui Shi
Blanc de Chine Buddhist Lions or Foo Dogs are difficult to date, they were made in the provincial kilns of Dehua in Fujian province. There are very many versions, all of which are rather similar but really following the same basic model. Technically the production didn't change much either, on the whole the earlier models have more hand-working. However, the early Blanc de Chine Fu dogs from the Hatcher Cargo, datable to circa 1643 ( stock number 19961) have little hand-work. The potting, glaze colour and general finish all point to a specific period but accurate dating is, I believe, very difficult. As with most pairs of Blanc de Chine Foo Dogs the pair are not a pair in the way we know it today. For a start, both are male as they have a brocaded ball each. Only one has a nozzle to take a taper-stick. These would, I am sure, have been a pair originally, the colour, construction and especially the faces are very similar, although only one has his tongue sticking out.
Dogs of Foo
Interestingly, the lion is not indigenous to China. When Buddhist priests, or possibly traders, brought stories to China about stone dogs guarding the entry to Indian Buddhist temples, Chinese sculptors modelled statues after native dogs for use outside their temples. The mythical version of the animal, was known as the Dog of Foo. The Buddhist version of the dog was originally introduced to Han China as the protector of dharma and these dogs have been found in religious art as early as 208 BC. Gradually they were incorporated as guardians of the Chinese Imperial dharm. However, Chinese sensitivity metamorphosed the dog into a lion, since this seems more appropriate to the dignity of an emperor when he used the beasts to guard his gates. The mythic dog is sometimes associated with feng shui, and are often called Fu Dogs. Fu means `happiness` in Chinese; however, the term "Fu Dog," and its variant Foo Dog, are not used in Chinese. Instead, they are known as Rui Shi ("auspicious lions") or simply Shi ("lions"). There are various styles of imperial guardian lions reflecting influences from different time periods, imperial dynasties, and regions of China. These styles vary in their artistic detail and adornment as well as in the depiction of the lions from fierce to serene.
A Pair of Ming Dynasty or Qing Dynasty Blanc de Chine Porcelain Buddhist Lions
Robert McPherson Antiques Sold Archive 25573
Two White Lions at Burghley House : Recorded in 1688.
They appear in the 1688 Burghley Inventory:
‘My Lords Anty Roome … 2 wt Lyons’ are listed under the heading ‘China over ye Chimney.'
The lions are shown seated on rectangular pedestals, each with a forepaw resting on a brocade ball, one with a cub rearing at her side, 30cm.
The glaze is of a brilliant grey/white appearance.
They appear in the 1688 Burghley Inventory: ‘My Lords Anty Roome … 2 wt Lyons’ are listed under the heading ‘China over ye Chimney.’