{"id":109,"date":"2018-02-05T12:00:00","date_gmt":"2018-02-05T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pagodared.com\/blog\/2018\/02\/05\/welcome-year-dog\/"},"modified":"2021-02-17T22:18:49","modified_gmt":"2021-02-17T22:18:49","slug":"welcome-year-dog","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pagodared.com\/blog\/2018\/02\/05\/welcome-year-dog\/","title":{"rendered":"Welcome to the Year of the Dog"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

According to Chinese astrology, which operates in 12 year cycles, 2018 is the Year of the Dog. If you were born in 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994 or 2006, you were born under this sign. The list of positive attributes is a long one\u00a0\u2014 dogs represent loyalty, honesty and intelligence, and \u201cdog people\u201d are said to be both friendly and responsible.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Here at PAGODA RED, we\u2019re often surrounded by distinguished canines \u2014 in both our courtyard and our galleries. Highly represented in ancient China and across Asia, dogs were popular subjects, featured in all sizes of stone statuary and added as decorative flourishes to furniture and pottery. To celebrate, we\u2019ve curated a special Year of the Dog Collection.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Asian Carved Stone Lion Protector | c. 1600 | W: 18.0\u2033 D: 19.0\u2033 H: 39.0\u2033<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Carved from a single block of ancient limestone, this majestic 400-year-old guard hails from the Ming Dynasty. Discovered in the Shanxi region, its features are wonderfully worn by time. Believed to depict either a Fu Lion, Fu Dog or Shizi, it is most certainly a proud and regal protector. We believe a piece with this much presence could anchor a formal garden, or ground a grand interior.<\/p>\n

\n
\"\"<\/a>

Kongo Nkisi Nkondi Kozo | c. 1850 | W: 7.5\u2033 D: 23.5\u2033 H: 10.5\u2033<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

In The Democratic Republic of Congo, the word nkondo<\/em> means hunter or guardian, while nkisi<\/em>, the singular term for mkisi<\/em>, translates very loosely to mean spirit. Here the word also refers to a figure used in spiritual rituals to help with anything from disease to desire. Most surviving\u00a0Minkisi objects can be dated to the 1880-1920 period, before colonialism impinged upon their use.<\/p>\n

The Congo people believed that only dogs were able to communicate with both the human and spirit worlds, and that the animals had four eyes\u00a0\u2014 which explains this examples\u2019s dual heads. Every\u00a0nkisi holds a vestibule in its torso, containing medicine, relics of the dead, or clay from the cemetery. Iron nails, some wrapped with braided straw, were driven into the body of the piece, in an effort to provoke the spirit into action. This colorful, museum-quality piece has quite a story to tell.<\/p>\n

\n
\"\"<\/a>

Lion Dog Protector | c. 1800 | W: 8.25\u2033 D: 9.5\u2033 H: 22.5\u2033<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Expressive features, and a squat, rotund body give this 200-year-old Shizi Dog (or Fu Lion) a unique, endearing look. This Fu was likely once part of a pair,\u00a0flanking\u00a0 and watching over the entrance to a grand Qing Dynasty home in Northern China. We love the one-of-a-kind interpretation of such an ancient, traditional symbol.<\/p>\n

\n
\"\"<\/a>

\u201cLeave it\u201d By Esther Shimazu | 2017\u00a0 | W: 6.5\u2033 D: 7.75\u2033 H: 10.25\u2033<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Esther Shimazu\u2019s unique\u00a0combination of carefree subject and careful process has made her one of Hawaii\u2019s most revered artists. Her meticulous hand-building and brush techniques, lay bare the beautiful as well as the beastly \u2014 capturing not only the pup\u2019s humorous expression but also his lolling tongue and distended underbelly. The sculpture\u2019s playful exuberance belies the sculptor\u2019s painstaking approach to craft.<\/p>\n

\n
\"\"<\/a>

Back: Guardians With Cubs | W: 14.0\u2033 D: 16.0\u2033 H: 38.0\u2033 | Front: Fu Dog Protectors | W: 10.5\u2033 D: 12.0\u2033 H: 25.0\u2033<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

This intact pair of monumental Fu-Lions (background) is rich in detail and meaning. The male, meant to represent yang, rests his foot on a pearl or ball while the female, ying, rests hers on a cub. It was believed that the male figure protected the exterior of the home while the female protected the interior. The limestone carvings have aged beautifully, deepening the duo\u2019s sense of life and energy. In the foreground, a second pair hold pearls of wisdom in their open mouths, and wear bells around their necks to demonstrate that they\u2019ve been tamed by their powerful owners.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

<\/h2>\n

Shop the Story<\/h2>\n

Year of the Dog Collection<\/a><\/p>\n