Carved Limestone Horsehead from Italy

Hand-carved by an Italian stone mason, this quaint limestone horsehead has excellent proportions. The contour of the cheek, the thick mane, and the slightly open mouth give the head a sense of realism. Carved with amazing precision, the horse can stand upright (face up) without the aid of a stand. Of course, it can also be hung on a wall in the proper orientation. Decorative horse heads of this size were often seen hanging on the exterior wall of a horse barn.

Although when most people hear the word “gargoyle”, they probably envision small, winged creatures with grotesque visages. However, the phrase has a deeper meaning, encompassing any carved head (animal or human) that function as waterspouts. From the Early Renaissance (late 1400’s/early 1500’s), our gargoyle fountain spout features a human-like face with pointed ears, possibly representing a centaur or a satyr. The roughly rectangular block of marble was hand-carved in Arezzo, in the Tuscany region of Italy. All sides except the front of the cream-colored stone have a sawed finish, resulting in a rough texture. The back has been excavated, adding to the character of the gargoyle. A 1 ½” diameter hole has been cut all the way through, forming an open mouth of the gargoyle. The gaping mouth was often a symbol used to conjure images of devouring giants and used to remind people that they are susceptible to certain forces. Our 15th/16th century marble...

An antique Neoclassical carved marble horse head sculpture. Dating to circa 1780, this hand-carved sculpture would make a striking decorative piec...

Beautiful large carved marble horse head. Marble has patina, and is white to light grey tone with grey veins, very light in color. No major damage...