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Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Sculpture, Room 111, The Gilbert Bayes Gallery

Crouching lion

Statuette
1690-1700 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Mother-of-pearl, jet coral and amber were selected by craftsmen for their beauty, durability and rarity. These materials often occurred in a particular geographical region. Coral for example was prevalent in Sicily and amber along the Baltic coast. Many of the religious items were portable, as were the small portraits. They were often made locally and then taken elsewhere. Pilgrims from all over Europe bought the jet images made in Santiago de Compostela.
This is carved from a relatively large lump of amber. Carved lions on post-classical European ambers are rare.


Object details

Category
Object type
TitleCrouching lion (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Amber
Brief description
Satuette, amber, crouching lion, probably made in Danzig (modern Gdańsk), Royal Prussia, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, ca. 1690-1700
Physical description
The lion is shown with its head between the two front paws, the body is twisted, and the left rear is underneath the stomach, with the paw seen on the right side of the body. Front paws, rear right paw and nose damaged.
Dimensions
  • Height: 5.7cm
Credit line
Given by Dr W. L. Hildburgh, FSA
Object history
Given by Dr. W. L. Hildburgh, F. S. A.
Subject depicted
Summary
Mother-of-pearl, jet coral and amber were selected by craftsmen for their beauty, durability and rarity. These materials often occurred in a particular geographical region. Coral for example was prevalent in Sicily and amber along the Baltic coast. Many of the religious items were portable, as were the small portraits. They were often made locally and then taken elsewhere. Pilgrims from all over Europe bought the jet images made in Santiago de Compostela.
This is carved from a relatively large lump of amber. Carved lions on post-classical European ambers are rare.
Bibliographic reference
Trusted, Marjorie. Catalogue of European Ambers in the Victoria and Albert Museum. London : Victoria and Albert Museum, 1985, cat. no. 14
Collection
Accession number
A.10-1950

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Record createdMarch 15, 2005
Record URL
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