NORTHERN ITALIAN, EMILIA, PROBABLY EARLY 13TH CENTURYPAIR OF STYLOBATE LIONS, |

Verona marble ; each lion surmounted by a later white marble spiral column with pink marble capital one lion bitten by a dragoon, the dragon's tail wrapped around the lion's proper left front leg; the other grasping a calf in his paws and with a bird on both side of its mane

Possibly from the private chapel of a villa, near Quattro Castella, Reggio Emilia;
purchased in Italy by Arthur de Schickler, before 1893.

F. Monmory, "Château de Martinvast. Restauration par M. E. Vacherot", in La Semaine des Constructeurs, Paris, no. 26, 16 December 1893, pp. 294-296; L. Castelnuovo-Tedesco, J. Soultanian, Italian Medieval Sculpture in the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Cloisters, New York, 2010, no. 26, pp. 114-117.

The two lions have lichen and moss throughout the surface and general surface dirt, notably in the crevices. There is extensive erosion throughout the surface on both lions due to long exposure outside. There are a old chips and losses across the whole surface of both lions and along the edges of the base. There is a vertical channel running down the head of the lion with the bovine probably due to water damage. The bovine has various fissures. Both animals have pale and pinkish blotches throughout, which are probably old cement fills. A later rectangular plinth has been added to the lion with a bovine, probably to fit in its former architectural setting. The later columns and capitals with surface dirt, lichen and moss throughout the surface. There are a few chips and losses in some places to the high points and along the edges of the columns and the capitals. One capital has been broken in two pieces and recently restored. There are a few old restorations on both columns probably due to the damages caused by allied bombings on 14 January 1940, when the south façade of the wing where the lions were located was partially destroyed. - Height addtional plinth under one lion: 13,5 cm - Height mouldings above the lions: 9 for one and 9,5 cm for the second - Height 13th century lions: 66,5 cm each
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The lions are described in an article on the refurbishment of the chateau of Martinvast: "The layout of the porch is curious in more than one respect. What makes it particularly striking are its twisted columns resting on lions, fragments brought back from Italy by the current owner." (op. cit., p. 294). A pair of similar stylobate lions, once in a villa called La Fossetta near Reggio Emilia, are in The Cloisters Museum, New York (inv. no. 53.64.1,.2). In a letter to the Roman dealer Guido Sestieri, dating 15 November 1952, the sister of the former owner of the lions purchased by The Cloisters Museum, Marianna Prampolini, mentioned another pair of lions very similar, though slightly longer. They were formerly in another chapel, nearby, property of the same family Friggeri who owned the whole site (see. L. Castelnuovo-Tedesco, J. Soultanian, op. cit., p. 117).