Italian, Venice
Seal, 19th century
Brass and wood, 10.2 x 4.4 cm (4 x 1 3/4 in.)
This is a Venetian seal that is made up of a medium brown wooden tube with a rounded end on top and a flat, engraved brass piece on the bottom. The image etched onto the face of the seal is that that of the winged lion of St. Mark, the patron saint of Venice. Most of the seal is occupied by feather-like undulations making up the wings of the lion. On the top part, the face of the lion is heavily eroded and has a halo around it. Towards the bottom, to our left, the lion holds onto a coat of arms.
Tapestry Room
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.