Carved Foo dogs..Blue John?

Hi everyone, I have here a pair of carved Foo dogs, They seem quite crudely carved..But I believe the stone may be Blue John? they measure a shade under 3 inches tall. Has anyone seen anything similar? Im just wondering if these are indeed blue john, potential age, just anything really

 

Welcome to the forums!

I've taken the liberty of posting the enlarged pic because very very few people will click on your pic for an enlarged version because it takes one to a different unknown website for many. I have cropped and brightened the original pic.

I'm sorry I can't help on the material of these carved Imperial guardian lions (called foo lions of foo dogs only in the West). They are also known as shishi, stone lion. I just don't know anything about Blue John other than I thought it was only found somewhere in the UK?

--- Susan

 

Thank you Ladybranch, that is very kind of you, and great information to know

Blue John is indeed only found in Derbyshire, I bought these today about 200 miles away from where it is found at a charity shop, I love the colours.

 

Blue John is in fact fluorite.
The Chinese often carve fluorite into small decorative objects. It is difficult to see if these are real fluorite.

 

Could you photograph them lit from the front with a plain background. Backlit pictures, unless for artistic effect are little use for observing detail. Blue John has an unusual purple colour which distinguishes it from other forms of flourite.

 

I'm not a Blue John expert but these striations look too straight, can they dye quartz?. I've got a lump of Blue John somewhere, I'll try and find and post a picture.

 

Thanks for the reply's everyone, here is some more photos - I hope these ones are better

 

Madstacks I've posted a pic of a piece of Blue John in Pottery, Glass Forum.

 

Just saw it, certainly a much deeper colour

 

Welcome BTW

 

Thanks I love how active this forum is!

 

Yes they can, and this could be just that.
I am trying to find one of my nice Chinese fluorite snuffbottles, but so far have only found a very pale one. Here it is, as you can see the carving is more delicate than on the lions:

 

So it looks like these are probably dyed quartz for the Tourist market?

It all ties in, the oriental theme really does not go with blue john, and the likelihood of carved blue john turning up in a charity shop is very very very slim. All good learning for me anyways

 

It looks like it, but as long as you enjoy them...
Blue John is pretty expensive, and mostly used for jewellery.