IN THE MUSEUMS
Two “Fô” dogs (Chinese porcelain) – Louis XV
Two “Fô” dogs made with white Chinese porcelain.
They are adorned with a chiselled, gilded, bronze mount.
Provenance: Kraemer Gallery
Musée Nissim de Camondo, Paris.
Each of these porcelain “Fô” dogs represents a male dog with its right paw on a ball, which symbolises the universe. The female dog holds her pup, which symbolises life.
They look like a lion with a curly mane, a twisted face, and sharp and prominent teeth. The dog rests on a rocaille-style pedestal, with coiling patterns and chiselled, gilded bronze leaves.
These figures often come as a pair, with the opposite sex, to symbolise the universe and life. These objects are said to bring protection, happiness and good fortune.
The Fô dog is the defender of the Buddha temple. It is also known as “Fô” and is often depicted in a sitting position on the doorway of temples and at the altar of the Buddhist divinity. This figure was very often depicted in Chinese art, more specifically on porcelain pieces.
