Vintage porcelain foo dog hand painted circa early 20th century

The object is a Chinese Foo Dog, also known as a Chinese guardian lion or Imperial guardian lion. It is a symbolic sculpture often placed at entrances for protection.• Foo Dogs are traditionally made of stone but can also be found in ceramic, bronze, or iron. • Historically, these statues were reserved for wealthy families, imperial palaces, or government offices, representing status and protection.• Despite the name, they depict lions, not dogs, and are sometimes called"stone lions" or "shishi" inChinese.• They have been used for centuries in China and Southeast Asia as guardians against evil spirits.