Hi friends, sorry it’s been a few days, we’ve been working hard on a project and some new ideas at work. We’ve been looking for the perfect accessories for a great room project we’re designing. Whenever I look for accessories and objets d’art to put into shelves, I find myself drawn to similar kinds of design pieces. Objects that resonate tend to be those that mean something to me personally, and being a dog lover, I feel tempted to use a few animal objects and dog-inspired pieces in my work.
One of my crazes is for foo dogs, Chinese inspired figurines that symbolize guardians or protectors. They come from the original Chinese lions that traditionally stood guard outside temples, estates and grand homes or palaces. Nowadays they are much more attainable however, and should always be bought in pairs.
(Source: Circa Who)
My favorites include the Cloisonne foo dogs, which are made of beautiful decorative enamel and turquoise foo dogs. Though you might think the turquoise ones are only a passing fad – they can be seen just about everywhere right now – I really feel they are more of a design classic.
(Source: Carnaby Home)
Foo dogs are often designed with fairly frightening-looking faces, sometimes looking downright appalling, but that is really just a part of the beauty and appeal for me. They may be unconventional, but they really help to make a statement in an interior space, as in this entry hall.
(Source: Evie’s Independent Living)
But if foo dogs are too severe-looking for your taste, why not opt for alternative dog figurines with a little more homely charm? Staffordshire dogs, which originate in England, are definitely a cuter, more palatable kind of dog. These too started out as decorative pieces for upper class homes, but by the end of the nineteenth century they were amongst the most coveted of English-made porcelain figures. Today they are still a real collector’s item!
(Source: Old Sweetwater Cottage)
Another coloration that you might see around is the pretty red and white colored staffordshire pieces like the dogs in the center.
(Source: Cottone Auctions)
What do you think: would you decorate with dog-inspired figurines in your home? And which style would you prefer?
