Details

LOT 0604

The 'Wenhaston Lion' English Animalier Candlestick

12TH-13TH CENTURY AD

3 1/2" (177 grams, 88mm).

A detailed bronze candlestick formed as a crouching lion with open jaws, hatched panels to the chest, recurved tail with serrated outer edge and loop finial providing a handle for carrying; the body pierced vertically from neck to chest to accept a columnar candle holder, now absent and horizontally through the open mouth; front legs with stub paws and hindlegs with horizontal feet; resembling an aquamanile in general form and in some detailing.

Provenance

Found by David Steadman whilst metal detecting near Wenhaston, Suffolk, UK, in 2018; accompanied by a copy of the Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) report, reference number NMS-11D931; and several old photographs of other known examples including the Victoria and Albert Museum example.

Published

See Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS), report reference number NMS-11D931.

Literature

See Egan, G. The Medieval Household. Daily Living c.1150-c.1450, London, 2010, item 425 for similar example; also The Lear Collection of Socket Candlesticks, Christie's sale 15th December 1998, lots 27 (sold for £17,250 hammer) and 28 (guided £8,000-10,000).

Footnotes

Examples modelled in the round with anatomical detailing, as this one is, are extremely rare while cruder examples showing little detail have been found in Belgium, Denmark and elsewhere.

CONDITION