Rare Life Size Vintage Thai Carved Wood Singha Guardian Dog Statues - a Pair

Description

The story of this pair of Thai carved and jeweled wood Singha guardian dogs is as great as the dogs … more The story of this pair of Thai carved and jeweled wood Singha guardian dogs is as great as the dogs themselves. They were purchased from the estate of a 100 year old wealthy woman that lived in Rancho Mirage, CA. She purchased them in Thailand on her honeymoon in the mid 50s. So in love with them (they were lovingly made by artisans in the 1940s) at a shop in Thailand, the husband grudgingly agreed to purchase them and ship them from Thailand to Rancho Mirage at a ridiculous high cost! And she LOVED them so much, they resided in the entry vestibule of her home for over 70 years! We are very grateful to the 2 daughters (who lived out of the country) that let as purchase them. They are life size! All carved and decorated by hand. After 60 plus years there is some loss to wood carvings that have been touched up and a few mirrored jewels gone, but they are amazing! Please look at the detail. Their faces have the most spectacular detail! These vintage Singha guardian dogs are not allowed to be exported from Thailand anymore. They were made to protect Temples and very rich homes. Certainly not many of this size were exported in the mid 50s due to the exorbitantly high cost!

Thai Singha Guardian Dogs:

Singha are guardian dog statues that are thought to protect buildings from harmful influences and people. They are also known as lion dogs or foo dogs.
In Chinese culture, two lions are placed in front of a building to guard its entry. The female lion is on the left side with her cub, and the male lion is on the right with a ball under his paw. They are thought to have mystical powers to repel evil spirits.
In Thailand, Singha are thought to protect buildings from harmful spiritual influences and harmful people. They are often found guarding the entrances of temples, shrines, and palaces.
Foo dogs are mythical lion-like animals that are protectors. They are often found guarding the entrances of palaces, official buildings, temples, homes, and even tombs. They were historically placed to ward off any negative energies.
The Buddhist version of the Lion was originally introduced to Han China as the protector of dharma. These lions have been found in religious art as early as 208 BC. less