About this objectJacob Chan is a Wirral-based ceramicist whose work has often been inspired by the Williamson and its collections.
This commission takes inspiration from a pair of the Williamson’s foo dogs. A foo dog, also called Chinese guardian lion, is a creature from Chinese mythology which protects homes from bad spirits and negative energy. Foo dog idols are often placed at the entrance of homes in China.
The foo dog’s fan-tail design incorporates detail from fans in the Williamson’s collections, in particular a porcelain fan gilded with gold leaf.
Chan’s foo dog is also inspired by time spent at the Williamson, and it rests on a base featuring photo-transfers of Chan’s visits over the years:
“The piece I have made is a combination of my memories and a nod to the existing collection of works displayed throughout the gallery and hidden in the archives beneath”.
The piece is made from stoneware and soda fired to 1300 degrees Celsius in Chan’s home studio. Its structure is assembled from sections of individually thrown ginger jars which have been cut up and pieced back together.
