22 - Pair of Buddhist lions, known as “Fô dogs,” China, Ming Dynasty, late 16th–early 17th century

Pair of Buddhist lions, known as “Fô dogs,” China, Ming Dynasty, late 16th–early 17th century Pair of glazed sandstone sculptures depicting two seated Buddhist lions with their heads slightly turned and their tails curled upward. Both figures rest on molded rectangular pedestals, whose sides are adorned with animal motifs in relief. The entire piece is covered in turquoise and eggplant-colored glazes, with dark highlights; the backs of the bases, featuring a molded decoration of stylized lingzhi, are left unglazed. The glaze surface shows a network of craquelure. Height: 16.5 cm Wear on the glaze, pitting and small areas of missing glaze, firing cracks, and general wear. The technique and color palette are characteristic of Fahua ware, associated with kilns in northern China, particularly in Shanxi.