Chinese Antique superb pair of Massive gilt bronze Fu lion in Yin Yang formation. Finest the gilt bronze casted of huge Fu Lion, vigorous beast, big head fierce front toward, muscle strong body, sharp eyes, opening mouth with sturdy canines, seated guard with forceful leg with five paws, ornament and jewel adorned on the neck, black pigment manes. The male Fu Lion on the right side with front left leg playing a ball, and the female Fu Lion beside on the left side, with carved to have a child lion between front right leg paws. When people enter the building, the male lion should be at the left hand side and the female at the right. However, there are the exceptions, such as the stone lions outside the Temple of Guan Yu in Jiayu Pass and the stone lions standing in front of the Confucian Temple in Qufu, Shandong Province. One can see the stone lions before the Tiananmen Rostrum, the Altar of Land and Grain in Zhongshan Park and Peking University as well as Lugou Bridge in Beijing. Chinese or Imperial guardian lions are a traditional Chinese architectural ornament. Typically made of stone, they are also known as stone lions or shishi. They informally known in colloquial English as lion dogs or foo dogs. The concept, which originated and became popular in Chinese Buddhism, features a pair of highly stylized lions often one male with a ball and one female with a cub-which were thought to protect the building from harmful spiritual influences and harmful people that might be a threat. Used in imperial Chinese palaces and tombs, the lions subsequently spread to other parts of Asia. Although the lion has never dwelt in China, it is a common art motif with lion statues guarding the entrances to temples. The character contains the homophone Shi which means ‘master’ combined with the ‘animal’ radical. Although some lions were given to the emperor as tribute from vassal kingdoms most knowledge of the beast came indirectly so representations are often more like pet dogs than fierce cats. Indeed the Pekingese dog was selectively bred to look like a Chinese lion. The lion is usually depicted resting on the ground with forefeet pointing outward and is mostly associated with Buddhism. At entrances to temples the lion on the right is male and holds a ball in its paw while the left lion is female and holds a cub. A pair of lions symbolize happiness and wish for a prosperous career. The number of curls of hair on the lion's mane used to be a measure of seniority, a high official would have up to 13 coils of hair on lion statues outside his home. A lion was also the emblem of some grades official. Two lions and a ruyi symbolizes a wish for everything to go as desired. Lion dances often have the lions chasing a ball and two lions chasing a ball is a common motif similar to two dragons chasing a ball. The lion dance was traditionally associated with the Lantern festival but is now seen on other Chinese festivals. If the dancing lion can be enticed into a home it will bring good luck. The gilt bronze conformed all required specimen to be high valued Chinese gilt bronze statue, with finest material, the color, the glaze, the carving, and the shape. Without overlap the outlines of the design, well carved, clear, subtle, and distinct. The gilt bronze is bright and lustrous as the light is easily reflected from the well-polished surfaces. The plaques split in the middle section, and fitted perfectly upon each other. There is a light grey patina noted in several creases. A pair massive Fu Lion of this high-grade gilt bronze is considered quite rare. Expert workmanship is the absolute highlight of this gorgeous massive Fu Lion statue.Measurements: Height:34 1/4" Width:30 1/2" Lot Notes:The lions are traditionally carved from decorative stone, such as marble and granite or cast in Gilt bronze. Because of the high cost of these materials and the labor required to produce them, private use of guardian lions was traditionally reserved for wealthy or elite families. Indeed, a traditional symbol of a family's wealth or social status was the placement of guardian lions in front of the family home. The lions are always presented in pairs, a manifestation of yin and yang, the female representing yin and the male yang. The male lion has its right front paw on a type of cloth ball simply called an "embroidered ball", which is sometimes carved with a geometric pattern. The female is essentially identical, but has a cub under the left paw, representing the cycle of life. Symbolically, the female lion protects those dwelling inside (the living soul within), while the male guards the structure. Sometimes the female has her mouth closed, and the male open. This symbolizes the enunciation of the sacred word "om". The lion with a single large pearl in each of their partially opened mouths. The pearl is carved so that it can roll about in the lion's mouth but sized just large enough so that it can never be removed. Chinese lions are intended to reflect the emotion of the animal as opposed to the reality of the lion. The claws, teeth and eyes of the Chinese lion represent power.