Read the visual description
The sculpture depicts a dog-like animal with short legs and small ears, looking upward with its mouth open to reveal sharp teeth, its tongue hanging out. Around the neck of the creature are detailed curls of overlapping fur, perhaps depicting a mane. It is predominantly a bright gold color with patches of dark brown where the gold appears to have rubbed away. The sculpture is turned towards the left, showing the creature in profile.
National Gallery of Art · Decorative Art
Aquamanile in the Form of a Lion
North French or Mosan 13th Century
- Date
- c. 1200
- Medium
- bronze with traces of gilding
- Dimensions
- overall: 13.8 x 17.5 x 7 cm (5 7/16 x 6 7/8 x 2 3/4 in.)
- Classification
- Decorative Art · Liturgical Object
- Accession number
- 1942.9.281
- Credit line
- Widener Collection
- Time span
- before 1300
- Department
- CSD
Subjects and terms
- mammal
- animal
- Lion
- cast
- gilded
- Western Decorative Arts. Part 1: Medieval, Renaissance, and Historicizing Styles including Metalwork, Enamels, and Ceramics
- Mosan
Provenance
Sigismond Bardac, Paris, before 1913, as French, fourteenth century;[1] (Arnold Seligmann), 1913(?)-1916; purchased 22 April 1916 by Joseph E. Widener, Elkins Park, Pennsylvania, as French, twelfth century; inheritance from the Estate of Peter A. B. Widener by gift through power of appointment of Joseph E. Widener, after purchase by funds of the Estate, 1942. [1] Henri Leman, _Collection Sigismond Bardac: Faiences italiennes du XV siècle, objets de haute curiosité, Moyen Age et Renaissance_, Paris, 1913: no. 33.
NGA object ID 1441. Collection metadata is reproduced under CC0. This work is included because its NGA published-image record is marked open access; visitors should recheck the source record before substantial reuse.