18.5 Inches High x 5 Inches Wide x 6 Inches Deep
This winged lion or griffin was likely an architectural feature or a furniture detail. It may have been upright against a wall or as part of a piece of furniture. Alternatively, it may have been placed horizontally as a gargoyle, a feature that diverts rainwater from a building’s walls. The lack of detail where the wings meet in the back as well as the elongation and compact form of the lion point to either usage. The lion is augmented by ornamental details, including the small scrolls into which the wing tips morph and the acanthus-like leaves protruding from the lion’s head that join the wings. When in profile, the tail is visibly forming to the curve up the lion’s back. Since this piece was not offered in the early 20th century Caproni catalogs, we believe it was added to the collection sometime between Pietro Caproni’s death in 1928 and Lino Giust’s ownership in the 1960s through the 1980s.
Artist: Unknown
Museum: Unknown
Time Period: Unknown