An impressive Italian white marble table salt modelled with a heraldic lion, probably 18th century, the rampant beast holding a gadrooned vessel in its paws, above a rockwork base, 35.5cm high, 29cm wideThe salt presented here is likely Italian in design, and its grand execution shows similarities to examples that appear in a more monumental context. Comparisons could for example be drawn with the recumbent lion by the feet of Saint Jerome also grasping a basin in its claws, in the late 17th century monument to the Saint at the church of San Girolamo degli Illirici, Rome, or the rampant lion on a rocky base underneath the 18th century monument to Principessa Chigi Odescalchi at the church of Santa Maria del Popolo, also in Rome. A pair of larger white marble lions of similar handling and heraldic pose, only with their hands raised on balls, were sold at Christie's New York, 22 November 2011, lot 158 ($25,000). Two 18th century groups after Giambologna showing lions with similar handling and on comparable rockwork bases were sold at Christie's London, 8 July 2010, lot 181 (£3,250).
An impressive Italian white marble table salt modelled with a heraldic lion, probably 18th century, the rampant beast holding a gadrooned vessel in its paws, above a rockwork base, 35.5cm high, 29cm wideThe salt presented here is likely Italian in design, and its grand execution shows similarities to examples that appear in a more monumental context. Comparisons could for example be drawn with the recumbent lion by the feet of Saint Jerome also grasping a basin in its claws, in the late 17th century monument to the Saint at the church of San Girolamo degli Illirici, Rome, or the rampant lion on a rocky base underneath the 18th century monument to Principessa Chigi Odescalchi at the church of Santa Maria del Popolo, also in Rome. A pair of larger white marble lions of similar handling and heraldic pose, only with their hands raised on balls, were sold at Christie's New York, 22 November 2011, lot 158 ($25,000). Two 18th century groups after Giambologna showing lions with similar handling and on comparable rockwork bases were sold at Christie's London, 8 July 2010, lot 181 (£3,250).
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
