How To Spot True Vintage Foo Dogs

A while ago I scored this pair of turquoise foo dogs from an antique chinaware store, but I also wanted to find a pair of the more iconic sitting pair to complete my foo dog collection. True vintage foo dogs are not easy to come by these days. After all they were last popular around 1930s when Hollywood Regency Chinoiserie décor was trending. Since this décor theme has made a big comeback in recent years, there have been so many replicas floating around which come in different glazes, shapes and sizes. Since I've done so much research on them, I thought I'd share with you my tips on how to spot and score true vintage foo dogs on pedestal.

In short, it's all about the details and the glaze. I remember when I was in that chinaware store, the soon-to-retire owner told me that artists from China with such intricate carving, engraving and glazing skills are long gone and many generations ago, so a rule of thumb to identify a true vintage piece is in the details.

 

In case you are wondering if I actually ended up finding a true vintage pair, the answer is YES, and they are en route to me. I will take some pictures when they are here. Can't wait!