East Asia, China, Qing Dynasty, ca. 17th to 18th century CE. A marvelous stone weight panel with a stylized foo (fu) fog crouched in the center. This hefty piece was used to hold the layers of shoe material in place while the cobbler worked. The dog rests on an integral square pedestal that is flat on all sides. The foo dog sits on his hind legs with his tail swirling out behind him with spiraling nodules. The head is also adorned with nodules to form a mane. The stout body faces forward with his mouth slightly open in fierce, but endearing, expression. The foo dog or lion is a highly stylized representation of a spiritual lion guardian that protected sacred buildings, tombs, or palaces against evil spirits or people. Lions were introduced to Chinese courts as early as the Han dynasty; however, interestingly, most artists relied on second-hand sources for descriptions, resulting in very stylized figures that were often mistaken as dogs by western viewers. Foo dogs were used as weights for cobblers specifically because the Chinese words for "pressing the glue into shoes" sounds very similar to the words for "oppressing evil," exactly what the foo dog was designed for! Size: 8.8" L x 8.8" W x 5.5" H (22.4 cm x 22.4 cm x 14 cm)

Provenance: private Hawaii, USA collection; ex-private M. Kobiashi collection, Hawaii, USA, 1960 to 2000

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#164510

Scratches and abrasions to base. Chips to edges of base panel. Nicks and abrasions to high pointed areas of carving. Flaking and chipping of painted pigments. Great details and traces of pigments.