This is a small, stylistic lion carved in olive wood. The lion lies on its stomach, its rear legs drawn up, back paws touching its stomach, and front legs slightly raised horizontally above the ground holding a disk-like object in its paws. The bottom of the disk, irregularly horizontal to the ground, is perhaps broken off. The front of the disc is elaborately carved featuring an indistinct creature in a center square, surrounded by indistinct forms, possibly animals. The lion’s body is smooth except for parallel incised groves marking its stomach; its mane, represented by two rows of series of comma-like carvings encircling its neck; and a very long, thin tail that goes between the two hind legs, across the right lower back and ends in a short tuft on the lower left side. A round carved collar encircles the lion’s neck with a c-shaped protrusion at the center back of the collar. The large mouth is wide open and lined with teeth on the top and bottom gums, the flared nostrils are prominent and the black, large eyes have a hole in the center. The round ears are set high and back at each side of the lion’s head, also with large holes in the center. Throughout this figure the grooves and holes are darkened, at times black, contrasting with the mostly medium brown lion.
Unknown
Lion-Shaped Ornament,
Olive wood
,
9.8 x 4.4 x 2.5 cm (3 7/8 x 1 3/4 x 1 in.)
Object details
Accession number
U18n35
Primary Creator
Unknown
Full title
Lion-Shaped Ornament
Creation Date
Provenance
Entered Isabella Stewart Gardner's collection at an unknown date.
Dimensions
9.8 x 4.4 x 2.5 cm (3 7/8 x 1 3/4 x 1 in.)
Display Media
Olive wood
Web Commentary
Isabella Stewart Gardner kept meticulous records of many of her acquisitions. In keeping with this legacy, object information is continually being reviewed, updated, and enriched in order to give greater access to the collection.
Permanent Gallery Location
Little Salon
Rights and reproductions
The use of images, text, and all other media found on this website is limited. Please review Rights and Reproductions for details.
Isabella Stewart Gardner kept meticulous records of many of her acquisitions. In keeping with this legacy, object information is continually being reviewed, updated, and enriched in order to give greater access to the collection.