Items Similar to Double Romanesque Capital, France, 13th Century
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 6
Double Romanesque Capital, France, 13th Century
About the Item
Double romanesque capital decorated with two fantastic animals
France, 13th century
Measures: 26,5 x 38,5 x 14,5 cm.
This rare double capital is decorated with two zoomorphic hybrids: on one side a half-pig (upper body) half-dragon hybrid; on the other side a griffin, half eagle (upper part) half lion. The animals are transformed by circling around the capital.
The transformation as a deviation from the norm must be interpreted as evil.
In the present capital we find the theme of metamorphosis, the transgression of limits through the phenomenon of hybridization: monsters and fantastic animals, redoubled symbols of bestiality allude here to Evil and to hell.
The pig in the Middle Ages evokes gluttony, laziness and lust. The lower part of the body represents a dragon with a dart in the pointed and serpentine tail, an obvious allusion to the devil.
This metamorphosis, which does not correspond to a hybrid "species", is certainly the fruit of the extreme inventiveness of the artists of the Middle Ages, and demonstrates that hybridization is a dynamic process and not a static concept. The other fantastic animal which appears in the capital is a griffin represented with the body of an eagle grafted on the back of a lion and provided with horse ears; a hybrid of two animals which reign one on earth and the other in the sky.
Like its composite aspect with feathers and hair, the griffin is marked with an ambivalent symbolism: it links the terrestrial power of the lion to the celestial energy of the eagle which makes it a symbol of the duality of human nature.
- Dimensions:Height: 10.44 in (26.5 cm)Width: 15.16 in (38.5 cm)Depth: 5.71 in (14.5 cm)
- Style:Medieval (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:13th Century
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Bruxelles, BE
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU6666231425662
About the Seller
5.0
Vetted Seller
These experienced sellers undergo a comprehensive evaluation by our team of in-house experts.
1stDibs seller since 2022
6 sales on 1stDibs
Typical response time: 7 hours
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Bruxelles, Belgium
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 3 days of delivery.
More From This SellerView All
- Rare Romanesque Capital Depicting Four Africans, Apulia, 13th CenturyLocated in Bruxelles, BELarge stone capital carved on each side in strong relief. The basket is covered with two crowns of vertical acanthus leaves which sprout from the astragal and fill the space between ...Category
Antique 15th Century and Earlier Italian Medieval Architectural Elements
MaterialsStone
- Romanesque capital with sirens - France 13th centuryLocated in Bruxelles, BERare romanesque capital with sirens France, XIII century Limestone 25 x 28 x 22 cm This finely carved Romanesque capital, executed in high relief from limestone, features four hyb...Category
Antique 15th Century and Earlier French Medieval Figurative Sculptures
MaterialsStone
- Gothic Capital with Foliate Decoration, 13th CenturyLocated in Bruxelles, BEGothic capital with foliate decoration France, limestone 13th century 16.5 x 17 x 12.5 cm The leaves are organically arranged around the core of...Category
Antique 15th Century and Earlier French Medieval Architectural Elements
MaterialsLimestone
- Rare Romanesque Capital Representing Daniel in the Lion’s Den, 12th CenturyLocated in Bruxelles, BEEngaged Romanesque capital representing Daniel in the Lion’s den France, 12th century Limestone 38 x 29 x 18 cm Provenance : Private coll...Category
Antique 15th Century and Earlier French Medieval Architectural Elements
MaterialsLimestone
- Gothic Stone Fragment Representing Vine Leaves, France, 15th CenturyLocated in Bruxelles, BEGothic architectural fragment representing vine leaves France, 15th century Sandstone H 21 x 21 x 17 cm mounted on a modern metal pe...Category
Antique 15th Century and Earlier French Gothic Architectural Elements
MaterialsLimestone
- Virgin and the Child, Mosan Region, Second Half of 13th CenturyLocated in Bruxelles, BEA polychrome sculpture depicting the Virgin and the Child Mosan region, second half of 13th century Polychrome wood 73 x 29 X 12 cm Provenance : Former Belgian private collection from the beginning of the 20th century This remarkable early artwork portrays the Enthroned Virgin and Child, also known as Sedes Sapientiae, which translates to the 'Seat of Wisdom...Category
Antique 15th Century and Earlier Belgian Medieval Figurative Sculptures
MaterialsWood
You May Also Like
- 17th Century French Capital FragmentLocated in Atlanta, GAAn outstanding and exquisite 17th century French capital to a pilaster. Expertly carved from wood with a wonderful cherub stunningly finished in water gilding and polychrome. A excep...Category
Antique 17th Century French Architectural Elements
MaterialsWood
- Lions Pair of Sculpture Marble Italian 13th Century RomanesqueLocated in BUNGAY, SUFFOLKRare, pair of 13th century, Romanesque, marble, recumbent lions Recumbent lions were popular in 11th-13th century Italian architecture with pairs ...Category
Antique 15th Century and Earlier Italian Classical Roman Animal Sculptures
MaterialsMarble
- 13th Century Virgin and Child from CataloniaLocated in Saint-Ouen, FRSeating on a bench-like throne the Virgin carries her child on her left knee. She bears an important crown high on her head .The Virgin has an ovoid face with bulging eyes, straight long nose and thin lips. The hair parts in the middle and are carved as thick horizontals parallel hair strands...Category
Antique 15th Century and Earlier Spanish Gothic Figurative Sculptures
MaterialsOak
- Rare 13th Century Christ on the CrossLocated in Saint-Ouen, FRThis wood Christ bears signs of time without diminishing its grace nor its interest. This Christ presents some characteristic of the previous century. While the feet are missing the position of his legs, parallel one to the other, let us think his feet where placed side by side as in the 12th century’s crucifix. The remains of his perizonium let us guess the cloth was very short, displaying the knees and a part of the thighs. The figure is straight, the arms horizontal, the hands open -with tha palm then pierced by nails- and the thumbs parallel to the other fingers as in most of the 12th century’s Christ on...Category
Antique 15th Century and Earlier French Gothic Figurative Sculptures
MaterialsWood
- Rare English Romanesque Limestone Capital on StandLocated in Wormelow, HerefordshireThis weathered English Romanesque limestone capital is centuries old, dating from the Norman era of the 11th and 12th centuries. Originating from Oxf...Category
Antique 15th Century and Earlier English Medieval Mounted Objects
MaterialsStone, Limestone
- 19th Century French Carousel Ride, Carved Wood Sparrow with Metal BodyLocated in New York, NY19th C. painted wood French Carousel ride, with the "body" made of iron rods. The bird figure has only one wing, as originally the other side had a spoke which connected to the cente...Category
Antique 19th Century French Folk Art Architectural Elements
MaterialsMetal