donate them? freecyle? craigslist?

They look like something on an old amusement park ride, like a carousel or something similar.

They look like something on an old amusement park ride, like a carousel or something similar.

I agree with Katie V. Get rid of them

They would make an interesting coffee table base with a glass top and fresh paint. Antiqued Bronze possibly?

They probably used to be part of the railings, and when the old railings were removed, the lion heads were repaired and left behind. Do the things that look like lids on the lions' backs come off? If the area where you live has a historical society or local newspaper, there may be old photographs of this place to give you some more hints about their original purpose.

white like the base or Hammered metal silver (can help cover imperfections).
Something that keeps the lion without overwhelming the rest of the space

I think this is what you have: http://missoulian.com/image_d0b305a4-db22-11e1-acd7-001a4bcf887a.html . They are former ornaments from a pool table.

I love them. I think you should keep them. I like Appleaday's suggestion of going to the historical society or perhaps the local newspaper...if you could learn their history, that could help you restore them to their former glory.

Aww! I think they're awesome! I'd paint them some metallic color that coordinates with your house (or, if the house is all neutrals, go bold like chartreuse or fuschia) and let them live there. Don't yank them out!

Bold yellow! Can't miss that when it's grey and cold in the winter :)

I think croake nailed it. They're kind of odd, I would either paint them white or light gray, or move them inside as part of a coffee table or something.

What a handsome pair! I love the red cinnabar idea if you can find the right paint treatment without it looking to "crafty". I personally would chicken out and do white or black. Both of those colors are pretty traditional and wear well outdoors.

I'd go for an understated dark grey to emulate granite or something that looks like weathered bronze (brown with green undertones).

If you feel like making them POP later, then you can...

you cant go wrong with hot pink

Wow keep them! Paint them gold.

I would love, love love, to see them painted like those Chinese turquoise Foo Lions. Like this: http://tinyurl.com/978v6g8 If you did a regular turquoise, then wash over with a thinner mix of a slightly darker shade which you allow to settle in the detail and rub off the main areas- you could even make them look like they are really ceramic. But just plain turquoise would still look pretty cool.

IF your aesthetic is not quite ready for bold turquoise lions, a dark, slate gray would look quite stately.

If you follow trends, you may have noticed all the dark gray and yellow- if you painted the base they sit on a dark gray, and the lions a flat modern yellow, that could look kinda cool too.

Just don't listen to anyone on here who tells you to do a chevron or ombre, or chevron ombre.

Keep them for sure. Paint them what ever you like. I would go very bright. If you don't like it, repaint.

Chevron ombre!

But seriously now, I'm in the "yellow with grey base" camp. I know that yellow is an obvious color for lions, but it would look very nice with the grey steps and green lawn, once your lawn turns green again.

Oddly enough, I think the turquoise idea would be kind of cool as well. But if you live in an area with a homeowners' association, you might be in for a fine if you paint them a loud color.

I think they might look nice with a glossy black laquer or maybe a tarnished copper look (with greenish hues) but it really depends on the house...

Not something I would keep, but if you like them, I'd consider painting them with faux granite automotive trunk paint. It would be grey with flecks of probably black and white, and would make them appear more like chiseled stone. You could antique with a little watered down black in the details if so inclined.

Good luck!

Whatever color you choose, I would be sure to fill in their eyes, noses and mouths - they look skeletal rather than regal at the moment.

Those are AWESOME !! Don't get rid of them - it'll be bad juju or something. I'd paint them glossy hot pink or orange - go with it!

Absolutely keep them; take your time figuring out something tasteful that will work with your home's front, but PLEASE, no hot pink, yellow, gold, purple or who knows what!!!

I have an affinity for them, too, but I think your challenge may have less with painting, and more with placement and staging. They don't look like they "belong" in that position, does that make sense? A previous poster indicated that they probably came from a pool table. THAT makes sense. I might recommend placing them in such a way that they're back in their original position, jutting out of something and balancing something on their heads.

At the moment they seem to striking a strange pose. Leaping but not leaping, know what I mean?

The bases are awkward so I think paint them to match the concrete, paint the lions any color you want, and add planters to the pedestal, with plenty of trailing greenery for the lions to peek out of.

The current paint job is really scary - like demonic. If you paint them sort of a creamy, slightly metallic white, they would look very pretty.

Yep they are from a Monarch Pool Table from the Brunswick company. Really interesting piece of history.

http://www.billiardrestoration.com/Antique-Pool-Tables/monarch.htm

I think the original black & gold looks pretty rad.

Spray paint. Rustolium has some pretty versatile finishes. I'd go with something dark an anodized bronze or something. The current color is way to bright and draws all kind of attention to their shabbyness.

i think you should put a light atop them. would cover up some of the area of concrete perhaps and you could strip the rest of them!

Now I've switched to black and gold, after seeing the pool table.

I do sort of like the note about them looking like a carousel, and I like the idea of painting them

thanks, html tags! anyway, painting them white with carousel-colored accents. More realistically, I think they would be great with a dark brown or navy blue base, with gold accenting on their contours. Really, though, they have so much great potential that there are like limitless color combinations that will look awesome. Good luck/post pics of the final result!

I love the idea of a two tone finish, one colour with a slightly darker one over top of it to accent the designs. Whether you do the two tone turquoise, or the red and black, a grey with black over top...whatever your fancy, I think that would look marvelous! I would suggest replacing the railing with a wood one of somesort, with the support post behind the lions and maybe put a light just above them like amandad2 suggested. That way they would maybe look like they belonged to something. I think we can all agree that whatever you do, do NOT accent their facial features. That's just plain creepy.

Try the hammered metal spray paints. I've used the hammered metal bronze to fix up an old radiator. It looked great. I do like the idea of turning them into a table. It's hard to appreciate lions guarding the path unless they are really integrated into the landscape, otherwise they usually look like grandma left them behind when she moved. I think they are great pieces. I kind of like the chippy paint on them now, maybe add a some more colors, sand them off and bring them to a metalsmith to add a leg to turn them into 1 or 2 tables. Have fun with them (and definitely keep 'em around)!

What a unique feature. Lots of good suggestions here, just pick one that suits your aesthetic. Whatever you do, do NOT listen to anyone who says get rid of them OR highlight the facial features (which would look cartoonish). Personally, I'd spray them AND the bases with some granite lookin spray paint and be done with it...at least until I worked up the nerve to try something bold, lol. That said, I DO think *bold* could look great. (How I longggg to be one of those people who can just 'go for' it & throw caution to the wind!)

GO FOR IT! And pleaseeeeeee come back & post 'after' pics. I'm lovin those lions & could use some inspiration.

Use the New York Public Library lions as inspiration. Paint the lions the same color as their base (the eyes too), name them Patience and Fortitude and you're good to go.

These are seriously out of place and quite terrifying. Their faces are nightmare fuel. I would get rid of them so fast... They are tacky- like someone was trying to "fancy up the place". Bail on them and the railings.

My first thought was UGH but then they started to grow on me. I would paint them something bright and cheery and leave them in place. As for the railing, I would just remove it entirely and go without a railing unless the stairs are particularly steep or you need to for some reason.

I like them! Post another picture once you've finished with them!

I vote for turquoise.

Man, I've never seen so many stupid ideas in one thread! Do not, under any circumstances, paint these poor objects hot pink or turquoise or faux granite.

Well done to JannaK for identifying them as decorative feet from an old billiard table. Clearly the concrete on their heads was a patch-up job after they were repurposed as garden ornaments. Personally I'd either strip them back to the bare cast iron, or strip then repaint in their original black and gold livery. Either way, remove the concrete - even if they have jagged holes in their heads, it will at least be authentic. You want them to appear to be an unexpected moment of history, not a redneck repurposing of found objects.

@Blandwagon = voice of reason. I agree, black, or a deep iron gray. I think they are delightful!

I agree with the several posts about trying to find them in a newspaper or local historical society. croake also seems to have found the original purpose, at least from looking at the lions from the back. I think it's also very sad that so many people have suggested getting rid of them- they are clearly part of the house's history in some context. Imagine if over the years everyone who moved into an old houses removed original molding, trims, fireplaces, etc that everyone is gaga over now. Not everything has to look like an Ikea catalog.

From the perspective of someone who has worked in an art museum for over 5+ years and seen some of the strange"restorations" people do to pieces- my guess is that the lions' faces look very different under that paint. For now I would strip them and see if you like what's hiding underneath- you can always go back and paint them later or hire someone to make good repairs on them. I would wait to paint them until you find a railing that you like (I would like stone with an old house/to go with the lions, but I know that gets pricey). Maybe the historical society could show you what some earlier railings looked like and you can see if you like them for an option? The lions could even be designed into the new railing to make them look more intentional.

Wow! Nice catch on the pool table by croake! Looks like somebody did a little cutting and DIYing on their heads. I would strip them down and see what you have. A shame they are not whole.

Apologies if this has already been suggested--if you don't find helpful info at your local historical society, why not strip to the iron and then paint just the manes gold to cover the concrete patches? Or silver or bronze? I feel like leaving their bodies natural with bright metallic manes could be really cool.

Like michelleb, at first I thought they were hideous (and really, it's the way the current zombie-face paint job) but now I'm digging them, and I'm so please that people unearthed their original purpose because they just make a lot more sense now. And knowing the original finish was black and gold, I think that would be cool.

That current paint job is the stuff nightmares! They truly do look demonic as-is. I think a neutral color is best for the lions. I like black, dark grey, gold (this can be neutral!), or a white/cream. I would paint their bases a color as close to your concrete walkway as possible. Then put planters or install lights on the step above and behind them. Add wreaths to their necks in the winter :)

Personally, I would totally remove the railings and replace them with nothing. A grand staircase with lions gracing both sides seems much more impressive!

I am almost never in the get-rid-of-them camp, but here I am. The beautiful state of Montana deserves better . . .

If you decide to keep them because of the historical significance or the cause of removal, black or gray (to match the roof) lacquer.

Those things are terrifying.

Those are beautiful but i'm not sure they are actual guard dogs. They are definitely not "Foo Dogs" though. I think what makes them really weird looking is that the face appears to be painted on? The nose and the eyes look either hallow or painted on. Confusing photos. Wish we had one up close. I would re-purpose them or I would paint them and patina them with a darker relief. Some examples:

http://www.buddhagroove.com/media/catalog/product/cache/4/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/f/u/fu_dogs.jpg

Really not convinced they're from a pool table, let alone one like that. Lions used to be a pretty common motif -- these guys might have originally supported or projected from anything. The pool table linked above has gorgeously sculpted lions, but the sculptor of yours was not so skilled.

Right now I would strip them. If they do actually look like the pool table lions and I'm being misled by the awful paint job, then I apologize and you hit the jackpot. If they look mangy and deformed even when stripped, I would stash them in the basement and let the next owner decide. I like guardian lion statues in general, but not if they're poorly done.

Oh, and if you do decide to paint them, I think hammered copper would be nice. I normally like plain stone/iron, but I understand if that's not an option here. I really really really do not think trying to imitate Foo dogs would be a good idea.

Asian Lions belong either in at an Asian restaurant, or in Asia. They cheapen the look of your home, regardless of color. If you have children, I would love for you to use them in the back yard or play room as part of a play structure. Paint the "L" support a color that is bright, and paint the lions either the orange and brown true colors of lions, or your childrens' favorite colors. Include a slide, a climbing rope, a jungle theme...You could build a rather simple "tree house," in the middle. These are not the classic lions that adorn the stairs of museums or libraries. They will look awkward an unsettling regardless of color. Of course, there are are always very eclectic collectors of all things who would enjoy having them just to be "different." It comes down to choice.

Lions at the end of your driveway or walkway signify that the mortgage has been paid off and you fully own your home.

Paint them white. If they match the base they will look more monumental. The pool table photos do look decent with the black, gold, and black and gold combinations. However, being outside, and that they may or may not have the exact features of them, this would hide any less desirable features such as the concrete patch job, etc. It will also look more like they are meant to be outside - making them too delicate or fancy-looking i think adds to the out-of-place "ness" that some people have mentioned. Solid white will liken to concrete, marble, or other outdoor stone-like material. In my opinion this would look best, and most appropriate.

Thanks for all the replies!

I've always thought the current paint-job made them look like road-kill or bad taxidermy--kinda bloated with sunken eyes.

The lions will not be going anywhere. After seeing the photos of the pool tables (Thanks both of you that found those!) I think I will be striping them, seeing what can be done about the concrete, and painting them black with highlights. If the black doesn't work out I can always go with fuschia or tennis-ball yellow later!

I'll find out if we have much of a historical society around here.