Pair of censers as Fo dogs; Following 17th century Vietnamese models; China, 20th century.

Pair of censers as Fo dogs; Following 17th century Vietnamese models; China, 20th century.
Patinated bronze.
Measurements. 38 x 12 x 11 cm (x2).
Pair of censers in the shape of Fo dogs (also known as guardian lions or shishi) constitutes a magnificent example of ritual sculpture in patinated bronze, inspired by 17th century Vietnamese models, although made in China, probably during the same period or in a later phase of stylistic reinterpretation.
Each figure represents a Fo dog seated on an openwork base, conceived as a pedestal in the form of an inverted lotus, with a structure that allows the incense smoke to circulate. The animals, with a vigilant and majestic attitude, have open jaws and erect ears, conveying a sense of contained energy and protective power. The surface is richly decorated in relief, with scrolls and vegetal motifs running around the body, neck and base, demonstrating the technical mastery of the caster and the ornamental attention typical of the ritual art of Southeast Asia and southern China.
The patinated bronze exhibits a bluish-green patina, a product of the passage of time, which accentuates the texture and modeling of the figures. This finish gives the sculptures an appearance of venerable antiquity, reinforcing their symbolic value as objects of worship or domestic protection.
From an iconographic point of view, Fo dogs symbolize strength, fidelity and spiritual vigilance, acting as guardians of sacred or domestic space. Their presence in the form of censers reinforces the apotropaic character of incense smoke, which served both to purify the environment and to connect the earthly and spiritual realms.
These pieces bear a close resemblance to the specimens preserved in the Tran Dinh Thang collection, famous for its collection of Vietnamese and Chinese bronzes of religious inspiration. This suggests a possible link between regional workshops in southern China and northern Vietnam, where stylistic models and casting techniques influenced each other during the 17th and 18th centuries.