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Posted 13 years ago
Lostinspace
(5 items)
This past summer, I found this little item in a community garden while digging a hole to plant a tree. Just threw it in a drawer and never gave it another thought until I found this wonderful website. It has nice little weight to it. Is it a door knocker?
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A Chinese Foo (Lion) dog . They believed they protected . I would say a door knocker as it would have protected home per Chinese belief
Very nice find ! What is metal can you tell ? Is it bronze
Foo Dogs can be traced as early as the Han Dynasty. Their first appearance was in Chinese art, which dates back to approximately 208 BC to about 221 AD. Foo Dogs vanished for nearly 400 years after their first appearance. They later returned in the T’ang Dynasty that was in power from 618 to 917 AD. Foo Dogs were popular because of their meaning. The Lion is a creature of the feline race that is known as the proud master of all cats. Its introduction into Chinese art coincided with Buddhism. The Foo Dog was the protector of sacred buildings and a defender of law. The dogs were commonly placed at business institutions, temple gates, home entrances, and estates. It was also not uncommon to see these sacred dogs guarding tombs or placed in front of government buildings to scare evil spirits. Through out the ages, Foo Dogs were frequently given as gifts to the Emperor. They would be presented in sculptures or in the form of artwork.
here is link to some for sale
http://www.dhgate.com/chinese-style-bronze-foo-dog-lion-door-knocker/r-ff8080812d12f64a012d131dc59334f9.html
I wish I would dig something up someday I always heard are you digging down to China Now I know what my Mom meant ! wow you reached China :-) How deep was hole ?
Manikin, thanks for the info and great history lesson. Yes, it is bronze. I dug down about 2 feet and there I see this cool little item. I do know that the garden sits atop a building that was demolished many, many years ago.
Thanks again!
BTW I love your Pepsi machine. Nice to have friends.
Your so welcome lostinspace ! Thanks for love on my pepsi machine too .
Mystery solved I would say :-) to a lucky find in garden !
Great history, Manikin! Interestingly, it seems the "Foo Dog" name came about because Westerners thought the guardian lions resembled Chow Chows or Shih Tzus.
Thank you Lisa :-)