Medieval Limestone Lion

Probably the base of a column. Symbolic of the Christian Gospel of St. Mark, the lion was representative of the Resurrection, and of the identification of Jesus as the Christ: Lions made an appropriate metaphor for columns supporting the Church.Compare the lions supporting columns outside the baptistry of the cathedral at Cremona.

12th Century AD

Height: 30 cm. (11 13/16 in.)

Width: 18 cm. (7 1/16 in.)

#5755

Ex: New York private collection, 1980s.

Published: Antiquarium, Ltd.; Ancient Treasures XIX. (London, 2020) p.46

Comparandum: Compare the lions supporting columns outside the baptistry of the cathedral at Cremona.