Guardian Lion / Foo Dog Bookends

I picked these up at an antique store recently. Don't know much about them but they appear to be Guardian Lion / Foo Dog bookends. They seem somewhat old and feels like ceramic (could be a different stone material) but not an expert.

I like the Asian style a lot and bought them to display on my bookshelf. Can anyone help identifying possible age, maker etc.

The care sticker looks a lot more discolored and old in person than in the picture.







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I think these may be unicorns rather than Foo dogs. They lack the standard iconography. And probably carved from stone. I keep want to call it loess stone, but am not certain. It a fine grained silt-based stone, softer than shale.

 

If they are unicorns would it still be of Chinese origin or would that be a different region?

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these are molds.....maybe a stone powder based resin..

 

They weigh about 3 to 4 lbs each (estimate). When you knock on it with your knuckles it makes a similar sound as if you knocked on a ceramic vase. Would resin produce that sound?

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Also the back (pedestal area) is not quite even.. if it was a mold shouldnt that area be straight/smooth? Thanks again in advance.

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See the smooth tail where it meets the bulbous end...I see a depression there consistent with a molded item.
Where you show the back of the base the critter is on....it's all smooth rounded edges , consistent with a molded object.
Also at the top edge I see a crater....consistent with a the type of bubbles you find in a molded figure.
The rough bottom of the base , and sanded edges around it are also consistent with the finish of a molded item.

 

Would you say they are bookends or just small statues?

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I am not convinced that they are molded.

And, yes, Chinese.

If they serve well as bookends, then call them bookends.

 

They are Pixiu, little dragons. They guard against overspending and other loss of riches. Nice detail: their tails are lifted to show that they have no 'cavity' to lose money from. There, I said it nicely
Chinese place them facing a door or window, to guard against money flying out the door or window.

 

Thanks for the help!

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Maybe not......I've had to look at one too many molded totem poles.....but it's what I see in the photo's !

 

How old do you think it could be. With the care instruction sticker my guess would be 1950s-60s at the earliest?

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