Info Required on Temple Guardian Lion Statues

[Vagabond]

Hi - I have a couple of the Ainsty Temple Dog Statues and thought I would be clever and paint them red rather than have them as a stone coloured statues.

So I've got a very nice red on the statues and then decided to research the rest of the colours, I was thinking black and bronze but I can't find anything on Google or Bing that shows any authentic statues that are red apart from one in Taiwan.

I was sure I had seen these painted but it looks like I've lost the plot and maybe got mixed up with Chinese dragons!

Does anyone have any information to help, I know I could just wing it but I would like to have some historical basis for my colour choice
Maybe I'm just being a bit pedantic because these look more dog like than lion like and they don't have the symbolic balls under their paws.

Primarily they would be for Sengoku period Japan but will get used throughout Asia in historical as well as pulp games.

Thanks for any advice you may have.
Cheers

[OSHIROmodels]

I'll ask and get back later 

[Vagabond]

That would be great - Thanks

[Juxt]

Hmm, I've never seen any in Japan that have been painted, or in any material that wasn't stone.  If you're absolutely set on keeping them red, then secondary colours of black, white and gold/bronze would work thematically.  My observations aren't based on any specific period information though mind you, just a decade of visiting Japanese temples- paints can wear and fade to nothing over time and 400+ years is a long time for fashions in statuary to change so what can be seen in temples nowadays could be vastly different to sengoku jidai.

Mikoshi heads in the shape of lion dogs are often painted red, perhaps they might be a good reference point?

[Shipka]

Don't know if these help

[Vagabond]

Hmm, I've never seen any in Japan that have been painted, or in any material that wasn't stone. 

I've spent a couple of hours searching and this is pretty much what I've come up with, and they look really good in red.

Shipka thanks for the images, these are the sort of thing I am coming up with, I think I've made a mistake here. Not the 1st but thanks for the help.

Cheers

[Osmoses]

There's a red one here: http://kahumi.hippy.jp/fu.mi/co/archives/818

[Vagabond]

Thanks Osmoses, I think I might stick with the red I've done just because I like it so much whereas stone is stone and not very visual.
So much for my historical veracity. 

[OSHIROmodels]

Waiting to hear back from my wife's cousin so will let you know when I know.

[Vagabond]

Thanks Jim, I think I am completely wrong with this, and I really appreciate you checking for me.
Cheers

[OSHIROmodels]

No worries and sorry for the wait (I think she's gone away for a couple of days).

[Dags]

Not that I'm biased at all* but I think you should just paint them whatever colour you want..... If it's 'wrong' simply buy another set and have another go. Repeat ad infinitum until everyone agrees they are right 









All right, yes, I'm completely biased

[Vagabond]

On one level you are absolutely right and because I like the colour I've done them I probably will do that but on the other level I wouldn't paint British Napoleonic uniforms pink because I preferred it.

Not that I prefer pink to red you understand.

I would like them to be reasonably authentic which was what I thought I was doing until I actually looked, which of course is what I should have done before I started painting.

[OSHIROmodels]

Not painted I’m afraid 

Pretty much all of them would be granite and the open mounted one goes on the right (the open mouthed one is ‘beginning’ and the closed mouth is ‘end’).

I’m sure Dags won’t mind you buying a couple more 

[Vagabond]

Not painted I’m afraid 

Pretty much all of them would be granite and the open mounted one goes on the right (the open mouthed one is ‘beginning’ and the closed mouth is ‘end’).

I’m sure Dags won’t mind you buying a couple more 

Thanks for checking, greatly appreciated. I guess I'll just have to get a few others to practice on.

Dags the penny has just dropped