Aquamanile in the Form of a Lion

c. 1200

Media Options

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On View

West Building Ground Floor, Gallery G18

Artwork overview

  • Medium

    bronze with traces of gilding

  • Credit Line

    Widener Collection

  • Dimensions

    overall: 13.8 x 17.5 x 7 cm (5 7/16 x 6 7/8 x 2 3/4 in.)

  • Accession

    1942.9.281

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Sigismond Bardac, Paris, before 1913, as French, fourteenth century;[1] (Arnold Seligmann), 1913(?)-1916; purchased 22 April 1916 by Joseph E. Widener, Elkins Park, Pennsylvania, as French, twelfth century; inheritance from the Estate of Peter A. B. Widener by gift through power of appointment of Joseph E. Widener, after purchase by funds of the Estate, 1942.
[1] Henri Leman, Collection Sigismond Bardac: Faiences italiennes du XV siècle, objets de haute curiosité, Moyen Age et Renaissance, Paris, 1913: no. 33.

Associated Names

Exhibition History

1940

  • Exhibition of Arts of the Middle Ages, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, 1940, 80, no. 283, as French or Mosan, twelfth century.

1987

  • Artful Deception: The Craft of the Forger, Walters Art Gallery, Baltimore, 1987-1988, no cat.

2006

  • Lions, Dragons, and Other Beasts: Aquamanila of the Middle Ages, Vessels for Church and Table, The Bard Graduate Center for Studies in the Decorative Arts, Design, and Culture, New York, 2006, no. 3, repro.

Bibliography

1913

  • Leman, Henri. Collection Sigismond Bardac. Faiences italiennes du XV siècle, objets de haute curiosité, Moyen Age et Renaissance. Paris, 1913: no. 33.

1935

  • Inventory of the Objects d'Art at Lynnewood Hall, Elkins Park, Pennsylvania, The Estate of the Late P.A.B. Widener. Philadelphia, 1935: 31.

  • Falke, Otto von, and Erich Meyer. Bronzegeräte des Mittelalters I. Romanische Leuchter und Gefässe; Giessgefässe der Gotik. Berlin, 1935: 62, 110, no. 374, repro. 352 (reprint, Berlin, 1983: 62, 154, fig. 352).

1942

  • Works of Art from the Widener Collection. Foreword by David Finley and John Walker. National Gallery of Art, Washington, 1942: 9, as French 12th Century.

1949

  • Seymour, Charles. Masterpieces of Sculpture from the National Gallery of Art. Washington and New York, 1949: 11, 171, note 2, repro. 28, 30.

1952

  • Christensen, Erwin O. Objects of Medieval Art from the Widener Collection. National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., 1952: 20-22, 30.

1981

  • Mende, Ursula. Die Türzieher des Mittelalters. Berlin, 1981: 55, fig. 362.

1993

  • Distelberger, Rudolf, Alison Luchs, Philippe Verdier, and Timonthy H. Wilson. Western Decorative Arts, Part I: Medieval, Renaissance, and Historicizing Styles including Metalwork, Enamels, and Ceramics. The Collections of the National Gallery of Art Systematic Catalogue. Washington, D.C., 1993: 25-28, color repro. 26.

2017

  • George, Philippe. Art et patrimoine en Wallonie des origines à 1789: Essai de synthèse à la lumière des collections américaines et européennes. Namur, 2017: 165, fig. 233.

Wikidata ID

Q62107073

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