Odd pottery/clay figurine

I know I asked about this years ago, but that was on the old eBay Boards, and there are some new people here.

Some kind of fantasy creature.
Unknown (to me) mark.
It measures about 3" high - the base is about 4.5" x 2.5".

 

Not sure it's fantasy: it's very reminiscent of ancient figurines, and I think may be a "copy" for want of a better word. It's ringing bells, and I wonder if I saw it on Crete. The mark is weirdly like a British registry mark, but I'm sure that's coincidence.

 

Poor little lion! He has a bad nose job, and, obviously, an awful toothache,

 

Ownedby, Thanks! I had the same thought about the mark, but could see that it wasn't really.
He is such a gruff/sweet looking thing.

 

That's why it looks familiar - I saw it way back when. There's a Dr. Seuss-like quality to the face, don't you think? It has a feeling of Mexico-Central America to me. Obviously, intended to represent a Chinese lion.

 

or a weird Foo Dog ...kinda thing.......LOL...

 

sigh . . . I was really hoping someone would know something about the mark this time.

 

For what it's worth I'd say it was fairly modern small artisan production because tube lining a backstamp in that way would be laborious.

I'm thinking of Dagon with that fish like crest and animal body.

 

And I think it is a good thing that I can no longer go out and buy stuff.
My track record hasn't been all that good on anything but the obvious.

 

I think it's cool. I'd have bought it. Has a somewhat Homer Simpson-ish look to it. Or maybe Jiggs, from the old Maggie & Jiggs cartoons.

 

yeah - but I need crap that's worth something. I already have enough doodads around the house, and I'm too old to hang to stuff just because it "cute".

 

Well, I keep trying to weed out, but I can't decide to get rid of anything. I try really hard.

 

Maybe it's Korean. That's why the mark is hard to identify.

 

Its Sir Dagon Foo Fish Lion Heart.