Chinese Standing Lamp with Lattice & Foo Lion Motif

A small foo lion keeps one paw on a ball and his eyes on whoever comes in next.

This standing lamp with lattice and foo lion motif is from Southern China, in lacquered wood and oyster shell. The base dates to the 19th century and the shade is contemporary. Foo lions are guardian figures in Chinese tradition, often shown with a paw resting on a ball. The carved lion sits on a small rectangular box base with traces of red and gold lacquer and a carved front panel. A turned red post rises to a square lattice lantern, its openings filled with thin translucent shell panes. It is 8 inches long, 5 deep and 28 high.

Old guardian, new lantern, same job.