Marked Foo Dogs

About 2 lbs each. Any idea who may have made them?

 

Two more pics . . .

 

I don't think you have a matched pair.
Usually they are a mirrored pair, or a male and female.

One is marked Okinawa 1948, so I would assume that one was made there and then.

 

With those backsides in the air, they could be a Japanese take on Pixiu dragons.

 

Maybe, but the clay and style of design seem consistent despite the added green on the one. Perhaps the color variations are signifying different genders?

 

Ah, hadn't thought about chimeras. Could be.

 

Safe to say "terracotta clay" when describing?

 

More likely from different pairs made by the same pottery, or different person. Or same family different person.
Believe a lot of pottery in Japan was made by families then sold to "companies".

 

An anatomical question. (Sensitive people, don't read on)
Do the backsides have holes in them? If they do, they are not Pixius.

 

The one does, but that might be from a piece that was not recovered when they broke.

 

These lions/dogs whatever usually have distinguishing "reproductive bits" if you turn them over.

I quite like your pieces, they could have been made by an American potter, serving and stationed there post WW2 ... Good selling yarn anyway ...

Here's a couple of mine, although they're Chinese, Shiwan, 19th century

 

And still perfect teeth.

 

Ah, what a handsome pair from the kiln in Guangdong Provence of Foshan City!
唔錯的古董
漂亮的古董