This pair of paperweights moulded in the form of Buddhist lions with applied decorations, sits atop a pair of artemisia leaves. In the West, these lions are often referred to as Fu or lion dogs and are usually depicted playing with an ornamental ball or woven-like sphere. These figures here rest with their paws on such a ball. The lions were traditionally guardians of Buddhist temples and were considered emblems of valour and energy. They were often produced in pairs.The artemisia leaf, which is a symbol for driving away of evil, is a Chinese decorative motif, and one of the Eight Ordinary Symbols. These included the dragon pearl, golden coin, lozenge, mirror, stone chime, books and rhinoceros horns that appeared on the attire of imperial court officials. Dehua wares such as these were made as items for the scholar's desk, to hold down paper or silk scrolls, and hence were also known as scroll weights. Dehua, a district in Fujian province, is the production centre for white porcelain, which is known to the Chinese as 'zhuyoubai' ('pork-grease white') or 'xiangyabai' (ivory white), and to the Europeans, 'blanc de chine' (white porcelain).