Upper part of a fountain
Fountain Part
1450-1475 (made)
1450-1475 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This triangular panel formed the upper part of a fountain, with the mouth of the mask on the shield adapted to form a spout. The letters A and N either side of the crest-coronet probably stand for ‘Aquila Nobilissima’ (Italian for ‘Noble Eagle’) rather than personal initials.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Upper part of a fountain (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Istrian stone |
| Brief description | Upper part of a fountain with eagle, coronet and mask, carved Istrian stone, L'Aquila (Italy), 1450-1500 |
| Physical description | The uper portion of a fountain, in the form of a triangular panel of istrian stone, carved in high relief with a shield bearing a grotesque mask, and surmounted by a helmet with mantlings. Above this is a coronet from which issues the head and neck of an eagle. The Gothis letters A and N are carved to either side of the coronet. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | A N |
| Gallery label | UPPER PART OF A FOUNTAIN
Istrian Stone
Italian (Abruzzi); 1425-1475
242-1879
The sculpture was said originally to have come from Aquila in the Abruzzi region of central Italy. It is decorated with a shield bearing a foliate grotesque mask; above is a helm and mantling (strips of rich material ending in tassels ) surmounted by a coronet supporting a crest in the form of the head and neck of an eagle. (Aquila is also Italian for Eagle). The gothic lettering A and N to either side of the coronet would normally represent the initials of the person represented by the arms, but may possibly stand for Aquila Nobilissima. This carved stone would have formed the central part of the upper section of a fountain, with the mouth of the mask on the shield adapted to form a spout; the remnants of a pipe can still be seen. The mask is unlikely to be a coat of arms, as it be unusual both in its form and in the arrangement of the charge on the shield, but is probably purely decorative.(1999) |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This triangular panel formed the upper part of a fountain, with the mouth of the mask on the shield adapted to form a spout. The letters A and N either side of the crest-coronet probably stand for ‘Aquila Nobilissima’ (Italian for ‘Noble Eagle’) rather than personal initials. |
| Bibliographic reference | List of Objects in the Art Division South Kensington Museum acquired during the Year 1894. Arranged according to the dates of acquisition, with appendix and indices. London: Eyre and Spottiswoode, 1895. pp. 34 |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 242-1894 |
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| Record created | February 22, 2007 |
| Record URL |
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