Lion Dog Protector

This limestone Shizi Dog (or Fu-Lion) was probably once one of a pair and may have flanked the entrance of a Qing Dynasty home in Northern China. The dogs were believed to be powerful protectors. This 200-year-old statue is a unique interpretation on the traditional Shizi Dog—the squat body and expressive features, including a fantastic articulated spine, show the artist’s personal approach to an ancient symbol.