Terra Nova Los Angeles Asian Furniture Accents: Chinese Guardian Lions, AKA “Foo Dogs”

Terra Nova Los Angeles Asian Furniture Accents: Chinese Guardian Lions, AKA “Foo Dogs”

Many people who take pleasure in adding Asian accents to their home or office choose to add what are frequently called “Foo Dogs” to the setting. What those people do not know is that the term “Foo Dogs” is incorrect. The sculptures so named are in fact Chinese guardian lions. They are meant to present the emotion of the animal, rather than being a lifelike replication of the actual animal.

The Chinese stylization of the lion led Westerners to mistake the nature of the animal represented.  In the Chinese renditions, the eyes, claws and teeth of the lion symbolize its power. Traditionally, pairs of guardian lions stood in front of Chinese Imperial palaces and other important homes, temples, tombs and other governmental buildings. They were set to protect the building from evil spirits.

The poses of a pair of guardian lions might be mistaken as mirror poses at first glance, but they are not. First, in a set of guardian lions, there is a male and a female lion, as representatives of yin and yang. Secondly, the placement of the lions is of importance: as one looks out the doorway of the building being guarded, the male lion should be placed to the left of the door while the female is situated on the right.

Pair of white stone Chinese guardian lions, also known as "foo dogs"

There is also significance in the traditional poses given to each of the lions. The male lion rests its right front paw on an embroidered ball, which can represent supremacy over the world. The female lion has her left front paw restraining a playful cub, to represent the power of nurture. The female protects those within the building, while the male guards the outside of the structure. The combination symbolizes the wholeness of life for those who will be within the building guarded.

Traditionally, the guardian lions were made of decorative stone, such as marble or granite, or of expensively cast metals such as bronze or iron. Because of this, they were very expensive, and so were found only in places of wealth. Modern materials have made them much easier to purchase for those of lesser income, making them even more popular for ordinary residences.

Pair of antique stone carved foo dogs, available at Terra Nova Asian Furniture Los Angeles

Guardian lions have been given a wide variety of appearances through the centuries, but the basic elements remain the same. The symbolic representation of a powerful protector continues to have aesthetic appeal. Selecting a pair of guardian lions (or “Foo Dogs”) becomes a matter of finding a pair that satisfies the owner.   If you are looking for Chinese guardian lions, or any other Asian furniture accents for your home, be sure to check out our website: http://www.terranovadesigns.com/statues-carved-figures-buddha-quan-yin.html  , or even better, visit our store at 2251 S Sepulveda Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90064.  For more information about our store and to see what our customers have to say about us, take a look at our local Yelp website: http://www.yelp.com/biz/terra-nova-designs-los-angeles-2 .  We look forward to helping you find the perfect Asian accent piece for your home!

Terra Nova Asian Furniture's WOOD YOU KNOW Series: Walnut

WOOD YOU KNOW – WALNUT

Walnut provides a handsome wood for paneling and furniture, and is often used for Asian furniture, like this antique Chinese cabinet. The heavy, durable, open-grained hardwood is highly valued by woodworkers for many uses. It can be expensive, which is why furniture made with walnut may cost more than a similar piece made of another wood.

What makes a hardwood?

Many people hear the word “hardwood” and think that it has to do entirely with the hardness of the wood. This is not necessarily the case. Although most hardwoods are indeed harder and stronger than softwoods, the difference between the two types of trees lies in how they produce their seeds. Hardwoods come from angiosperm trees, meaning that the trees flower and their seeds are usually basically naked.

Walnut is a hardwood with considerable durability. Its straight grain can keep a beautiful finish for many years. The color of the wood covers a range from the dark brown that people expect down to a lighter brown. It is one of the few woods that naturally has dark color tones. The darker wood tends to come from the middle of the walnut tree, while the wood of the outer layers is lighter in color. Woodworkers find it a pleasure to work with and it holds its shape well.

                                                                                                                                                                                                           

Types of Walnut

There are several types of walnut woods. Common walnut is generally the most prevalent of the walnuts used for furniture. However, Black walnut is very popular due to the beauty of its grain. Butternut is related to the Black walnut, but its wood is paler in color and more lightweight. 

Asian Walnut

Shoppers may occasionally run across items made of a wood labeled “Asian walnut.” They should be aware that this is more likely to be acacia wood rather than actual walnut. Walnuts belong to the family Juglandaceae, while acacia trees are of the family Fabaceae. Marketers tend to label the acacia wood as Asian walnut because that name seems more attractive to buyers. However, acacia is more often used in flooring than in furniture.  At Terra Nova Asian Furniture, we pride ourselves on our high quality, REAL walnut Asian Furniture, like this antique Chinese walnut cabinet:

large antique walnut Chinese cabinet, from the Shanxi Province of China,
 available at Terra Nova Asian Furniture in Los Angeles

What to Look For

To be certain that the item you are looking at is indeed made from walnut, check for a straight grain in the wood. Although there may be a few swirls and curls in walnut, the over-all line of the grain should be straight. Be aware that stains for coloring the wood may make the grain less obvious. Also be aware that the piece of furniture you are looking at may have a walnut veneer, rather than being made of solid walnut.  The veneer will give furniture made from a lesser wood the pleasing appearance of solid walnut.  Knowing whether a piece is solid walnut or one with only a walnut veneer can make a difference in the price of the piece.

Dark Walnut Wood Grain Detail

In the end, the attraction of the dark wood tones of walnut can add a sense of stability and durability to any home environment.