Featured Porcelain "dog" looking Chinese figurine

Hi all! First dump of pictures after a busy estate sale shopping. One of my most exciting finds are these dog looking figurines. They look very strange and unusual (gogle search returns normal looking dogs, but not this kind). One measures 2x2 and another one is about 2.5x2.5 inches. Can anyone guide me in the right direction whith the proper name/term for these creatures? Any idea on the age of these?

Thank you!

 

From what I've been able to find, these are usally called Chinese Mud Dogs. Some have been called majolica. If you look up Chinese Mud Dogs, you'll notice many have the same markings/pattern on the base. Hope this helps

 

Spot on! Thanks so much

 

Very cute, Liana, I particularly like the white one.
These Shiwan mud figurines were originally made to go with bonsai trees, to create a miniature landscape with people, animals, temples, etc.
I believe the ones with this particular CHINA mark are ca 1890-1910, but best wait for someone else to confirm or deny. @Ce BCA ?

 

More common to find 'China' in Westernised script in the late inter war and early post war period . The mark with the bounding box looks a bit later than the simple impressed 'China' mark. When you see them in the salerooms, they describe them as vintage rather than antique. I haven't seen many of them, so can't give much personal experience from handling.

 

Thanks, Ce.

I agree, and the figurine looks later too.

 

Interesting. Thank you! I was wondering why "mud" figurines?

 

Got it! Thanks. I love them for being so unusual!

 

Apparently way back when people made the early figurines from river mud, which is often very good clay.

 

For whatever reason, this little cutie pie, just hits me the right way....he's called the same thing!!!! AND Liana, Yours are absolutely adorable too!!!

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