Carved walnut fruit press in the form of a lion. Italian, ca. 1700.

Carved walnut fruitpress in the form of a lion's body resting on walnut brackets terminating in brackets, on an elm base. The lion's body is hollowed out and cross-hatched so as to receive fruit (etc), which is crushed by a slat of wood with a cross-hatched and swollen underside, running along the lion's back and fixed with a large iron hinge by its ruff. The lion's mouth is fitted with a spout from which the juice escapes. The tail is shaped like a scroll bracket on which the handle of the back slat rests.

Given by Mrs Ellen Hearn

Thought to be 16th century when acquired, this object was most likely made some time in the late 17th century, although the base and the two supports could be 19th century replacements.

This walnut lion was carved in Italy about 1700 or earlier, and it serves as a fruit press. The back of the lion has a swelling underside and is hinged to its ruff. It opens into a hollow interior, where fruit is piled up and crushed when closed. The juices would escape through a spout fitted to the lion’s mouth. The object is quite small and would most likely have stood on a kitchen table.

CIRC.476-1923