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These two Chinese ginger jars were originally displayed in the Drawing Room, where they sit today. They feature peonies with a rocky stream, surrounded by a floral border. The lids of the jars are topped with Foo dogs, Chinese lions that typically guard the entrance of a building. The Foo dogs always come in pairs and are said to protect against evil spirits. Label
These two Chinese ginger jars were originally displayed in the Drawing Room when the Bourn couple lived at Filoli, where they can be seen today. They feature peonies with a rocky stream, surrounded by a floral border. The lids of the jars are topped with Foo dogs, Chinese lions that typically guard the entrance of a building.
The Foo dog, also known as the Shishi or Guardian Lion, is meant to protect the inside and outside of buildings by warding off evil spirits. Foo dogs typically come in pairs, one female and one male. They are one of three celestial guardians sent down to protect humans. The lions depicted in this pair have their mouths open, mid-roar, to scare off any evil.
