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I have been told this is a Chinese bronze Foo censer. It is small at approximately 9 cm x 8 cm. I would like to know anything about it's age, origin, or anything else you might be able to tell me about it. Also, would it be a Foo dog or Foo lion?

Dear Vicky

I don't know much about bronzes, but a foo dog and a foo lion are the same thing.

Briefly, when Buddhism came from India to China, a prominent symbolic animal was the lion - an animal present in India but not in China. Thus the tradition grew up of depicting the Buddhistic lion as a kind of lapdog creature. Thus, a foo dog and a foo lion are the same thing.

I do not know how to date your bronze, but I think the hollowness of the figure and the yellowness of the metal might be of significance to an expert, as might the cut marks on the base. Anyone have an opinion?

Rgds
Jonathan

Thank you for the information. It is still very useful in helping me to understand what I have.

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