Guardian Lion/Foo Dog Brass
I was at the Admiral Vernon antiques market in Portobello. One of the stalls downstairs sells Asian/South East Asian antiques. I bought this unique piece of foo dog/guardian lion brass. At first I thought it is a barong: a good spirit in a Balinese mythology. But looking at further research, I think it is a Chinese foo dog or guardian lion who guards/protects places.
![A very ornate design foo dog brass](https://mariabristoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/A-very-ornate-design-foo-dog-brass-300x224.jpg)
![Guardian lion foo dog antique](https://mariabristoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Guardian-lion-foo-dog-antique-224x300.jpg)
![Lion foo dog fire tongue antique brass small](https://mariabristoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Lion-foo-dog-fire-tongue-antique-brass-small-224x300.jpg)
I am not sure about the function of it, it does have small holes maybe for screw? I thought it was for topping the wine bottle, but I later doubt it because of the heavy weight it carries.
![Chinese foo dog brass antique](https://mariabristoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Chinese-foo-dog-brass-antique-300x224.jpg)
![Bottle top foo dog brass heavy antique](https://mariabristoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Bottle-top-foo-dog-brass-heavy-antique-224x300.jpg)
![Chinese Japanese foo dog lion brass](https://mariabristoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Chinese-Japanese-foo-dog-lion-brass-224x300.jpg)
I have to come back to the seller and ask more information about it. Including where it was made. Maybe it was made by Indonesian artist? I will update this page as soon as I find more info.