Finial with Heraldic Lions
10th-8th century BCE
Description
This finial is comprised of two rampant, confronted lions, joined at the forepaws and hindpaws around rings that would have once held the pin of the finial. The stylized lions have long, arching necks and cylindrical bodies with flat hindlimbs. The lions stand on their hindlimbs, which have lumps to indicate joints, with their tails hanging straight in twisted lines and ending in single spirals. The necks have a raised, beaded ridge along the spine. The heads are small with short, rounded ears, large eyes indicated by raised dots, and open snarling mouths that reveal large canine teeth; unlike the other lion finials (188.1972.A and 1953.210), they do not have spurs of metal in their mouths.
Dimensions
15.6 x 6.7 x 1.4 cm (6 1/8 x 2 5/8 x 9/16 in.) Exterior diameter tube: 0.7 cm (1/4 in.) Inner diam. ring top and bottom: 1 cm (3/8 in.)
Provenance
Private Collection, Boston, (by 1931), gift; to the Fogg Art Museum, 1931.
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