Pair of Martaban vessels; Chinese, 20th century

Pair of Martaban vessels; China, 20th century.
Earthenware.
One of the vases has imperfections in the glaze.
Measurements: 52 x 36 cm.
Pair of earthenware vessels of similar, though not identical, shape and finish. They have incised decoration with Martaban-style dragon motifs and zoomorphic handles with finishes representing the heads of foo dogs. The foo dog, similar to a lion, is an important symbol in Chinese Taoist culture and, through its influence, also in Japanese and Thai culture. It is identified with protection against evil spirits, and hence they are often depicted in pairs at the entrance of temples, imperial tombs, palaces, government buildings, etc. They are also known as Imperial Guardians, and were very common in traditional Chinese art. They are attributed with mythical powers of protection, and appear as early as the Han Dynasty (206 BC - 220 AD) at the entrance of important buildings. Today, foo dogs are still frequent as decoration and symbolic elements at the entrance of all kinds of buildings, from hotels to supermarkets.
The known Martaban vessels were a type of pottery widely used in maritime trade, as this type of pottery facilitated the transport of various goods.