Candelabrum (2) - Bronze - Foo Dogs





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Two bronze Foo dog candleholders from Spain, dating to the 1950s–1960s, each roughly 10 cm high, 10 cm wide and 5 cm deep, with a back-mounted candle holder and a warm patina, in good used condition with minor signs of age.
Description from the seller
These two Foo dog candle holders—or Chinese guardian lions—have that bold, almost theatrical presence that characterizes mid-20th-century decorative reinterpretations. They are bronze pieces worked with a level of detail that aims to convey strength, protection, and a touch of exoticism, very much in line with Western fascination with Eastern art during that period.
Each figure rests firmly on its four legs, with the body covered in scrolls, stylized scales, and motifs reminiscent of ceremonial armor. The head, with its flowing mane and vigilant expression, provides that hybrid character between real animal and mythical creature that defines Foo dogs. On the back, the candlestick rises like a small metallic flower, with a wavy edge that softens the set’s bluntness and adds a delicate ornamental touch.
The bronze, with its warm patina slightly darkened by time, gives them depth and authenticity. They are not pieces intended to pass for antiques, but they capture very well the decorative spirit of the mid-20th century: solid, symbolic objects designed to stand out on a sideboard, a console, or a shelf, imparting character and an air of a traveling collection.
Insured shipping and careful packing.
Seller's Story
These two Foo dog candle holders—or Chinese guardian lions—have that bold, almost theatrical presence that characterizes mid-20th-century decorative reinterpretations. They are bronze pieces worked with a level of detail that aims to convey strength, protection, and a touch of exoticism, very much in line with Western fascination with Eastern art during that period.
Each figure rests firmly on its four legs, with the body covered in scrolls, stylized scales, and motifs reminiscent of ceremonial armor. The head, with its flowing mane and vigilant expression, provides that hybrid character between real animal and mythical creature that defines Foo dogs. On the back, the candlestick rises like a small metallic flower, with a wavy edge that softens the set’s bluntness and adds a delicate ornamental touch.
The bronze, with its warm patina slightly darkened by time, gives them depth and authenticity. They are not pieces intended to pass for antiques, but they capture very well the decorative spirit of the mid-20th century: solid, symbolic objects designed to stand out on a sideboard, a console, or a shelf, imparting character and an air of a traveling collection.
Insured shipping and careful packing.

