Chinese Qing Dynasty 19th Century Hand-Carved Foo Dog Sculpture Mounted on Base

A Chinese Qing Dynasty period carved stone foo dog sculpture from the 19th century, mounted on black custom made base. Created in China during the 19th century this foo dog sculpture features a lion sitting on his hind legs with his left paw propped up on a ball. He is resting on a square plinth, raised on a black custom made base. As is common with foo dogs, his mouth is open. The name foo dog is actually a mistake made in the west.   In reality these imperial Chinese guardians are lions, which were believed to have powerful mythic, protective benefits and often sat outside government buildings and temples. This hand-carved stone Qing dynasty foo dog sculpture will make a stunning addition to any home, perhaps displayed in an entryway, next to a door.