LARGE Pair Republic Chinese Cloisonne Vases ~Foo Dogs Lions Playing Ball ~Stands

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LARGE Pair Republic Chinese Cloisonne Vases ~Foo Dogs Lions Playing Ball ~Stands:
$1068.00

This sale is for a beautiful matching pair of large, vintage Chinese cloisonne vases decorated with five large foo dogs (also shi, foo lions) playing with auspicious balls. The foo dogs are very colorful with bodies of blue, greens, yellow and red. They have beautiful faces, graceful bodies and auspicious tails. The foo dogs are smiling as they play with decorated yellow & green balls having pink & red ribbons that wave in the air. There are five other Chinese symbols related to clouds around the vases in red, pink and blue that I cannot identify. The ground isblack enamel with clouds made of wire. There are traditional Chinese borders decorating the top and bottom ofeach vase. Each vase is stamped \"Made in China\" on the bottom dating them to around 1920 early Republic era (soon to become antiques!). The two vases are very nice quality, very traditional Chinese designs and in excellent vintage condition.
There are two fine, old matching Chinese wood stands included in the sale but not original to the vases. The stands each have a graceful carved base with five feet and a raised center for display. The patina on the old stands has aged beautifully. The beautiful wood stands are heavy and very substantial to support the weight of the large foo dog vases.
I purchased the foo dog vases more than 40 years ago at my favorite Asian antique store in San Francisco. The only imperfection is an old, slight dent downward on the metal rim of one vase (see the photos). There are characteristics common with old cloisonne such as tiny pittings and some slight enamel loss on close inspection. There could be minor surface scratches. The metal has a nice, dark patina with a few dark or irregular spots mainly looking down into the vases. The bottom metal has some tarnish which could be cleaned by the buyer. There are no other chips, dents, cracks, enamel loss, repairs or damage to the vases.
The matching stands have age appropriate wear and are in excellent condition. There could be little surface scratches & rubs and tiny separation at the joints from shrinkage. There are no cracks, chips, repairs, missing parts or damage to the stands.
Foo dogs (shi, foo lions) first appeared in Chinese culture around 206 BC. They are often found in pairs (male and female) at entrances to tombs, homes or buildings where they serve as guardians and protectors. The male often has a paw on a ball while the female has a paw on a pup. The foo dogs are brave, intelligent and powerful. They are sometimes depicted in Chinese art as playing with auspicious balls with colored ribbons as in the design of these vases. Theribbons add importance and power to the balls in this scene. The balls represent the moon pearl, bringing blessings and protection against evil. This scene is much revered & important in Chinese culture and the arts.Approximate Specifications for each Foo Dog VaseWeight: 984.6 gramsHeight (each vase): 12 15/16\"Width across (widest point): 7 1/2 \"Circumference: 23 1/2\" at widest pointDiameter of top: 3 5/8\"Diameter of base: 3 7/8\"
Approximate Specifications for each Wood StandWeight: 219.8 gramsDiameter: 5 1/2\"Height of stands: 2\" Display area: 4\"Matching pairs of vintage Chinese Republic era cloisonné vases are more difficult to find than single vases especially in such wonderful condition as these. And foo dog designs are more rare than many other Chinese cloisonne designs from my experience collecting them. These beautiful matching Chinese cloisonne foo dog vases & old stands will make a wonderful addition to a collection of Asian arts & antiques. The only ones I found in 50+ years of active collecting. A smart buy for the collector.
Please note: We make every effort to accurately describe all items offered for sale. We encourage you to use your own judgment andexpert advice for dating and valuing items. Examine the photos are they are part of the description. We cannot make any guarantees as to the actual age of any items offered for sale, as opinions are known to vary from one expert to another.
Full USPS insurance coverage. Your purchase will be packaged with great care using new bubble wrap and a sturdy new cardboard box. I usually ship daily except for Sundays and holidays. These vases & stands may be shipped in separate boxes. Any excess shipping costs paid over actual shipping costs will be refunded to the buyer. I do not charge for packing materials.
Sold in the US only. No international offers, please. Will not ship outside the US.
I only accept PayPal. I do not accept returns unless I made asignificant error in describing the matching foo dog vases & stands. Please make note of this policy before offerding. Please examine the photos to assess the condition for yourself.
The sale is for the matching cloisonne foo dog vases & stands only. Other items shown in the photos are for display purposes only.