Pair of Fô dogs with prunus ribbons, Shiwan glazed stoneware, Southern China

Pair of Fô dogs with ribbons and prunus.
South China, Foshan, Shiwan kilns.
Late 19th, early 20th century.
Male and female couple, the latter identifiable by the small puppy resting on one of her front legs. Fô dogs are mythical beasts that are half dog and half lion: the male puts his paw on a ball symbolising the world, while the female holds her puppy. The two figures stare at the viewer through their dilated pupils. They are designed in mirror, polychrome in refined tones.
The ears are intact, which is rare in this type of piece.

The town of Shiwan, north of Hong Kong, has been famous for its ceramics since the Tang (618-907) and Song (960-1279) dynasties, and prospered under the Ming (1368 - 1644) and Qing (1644 - 1912) periods.)
The Chinese imperial guardian lions, traditionally known in Chinese simply as shi (‘lion'), and often called ‘Fo lions' or ‘Fo dogs' in the West, are a common representation of the lion in imperial China. 
Statues of guardian lions have traditionally stood in front of Chinese imperial palaces, imperial tombs, administrative buildings, temples and the residences of officials and the wealthy classes since the Han dynasty (206 BC - 220 AD). They were believed to be endowed with protective powers. They also appear in other artistic contexts, for example on door knockers and pottery. Lions (Fo dogs) were placed in front of the entrances to houses or public buildings to protect the premises from evil spirits.
Pairs of guardian lion statues are still common decorative and symbolic elements at the entrances to restaurants, hotels, supermarkets and other structures, sitting on either side of the entrance.