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Does anyone know if these are Chinese Export? They look kind of like Fitz and Floyd ones, but seem higher quality to me with the mouth detail. They are incised "5" to base in arabic numerals and an underglaze stamp on the belly, partially visible, of which i can only make out "FA"

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These creatures you show look more fierce than the average Chinese or Japanese Buddhistic Lions or Fu Dogs (Shishi in Japan and Shizi in China). I've never run across a pair of them like yours before and wonder, in addition to your thoughts on possible European origins, if they could have been made somewhere in Southeast Asia. Here are some late 20th century examples for comparison. First a group of Japanese shishi exported in the late 20th century by the Otagiri Mercantile Company. Then a pair of late 20th century Chinese blanc de chine foo dogs and cubs in the Northern or Beijing style from the Dehua kilns.

Best regards,

Bill H.

I didn't even know they made foo lions in southeast asia, I shall have to explore that.. thank you, Misty

Vietnam was under varying degrees of Chinese subjugation for over 2000 years before the French took up the task in the 19th century. The ceramics industry there still produces high quality porcelain and pottery, a goodly amount of which has been produced in the Chinese style over the centuries (See picture herewith). Thailand and Indonesia also manufacture Chinese style porcelains, with quite a lot of fake antiques being sourced nowadays to Indonesia.

The picture herewith shows a Ming-style Buddhist Lion (Foo Dog) that I bought in Thailand about 25 years ago and believe probably was made in Southern Vietnam before 1975. It is very close to some Chinese examples I've seen.

Best regards,

Bill H.

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