Lions in London - The V & A Museum...

A bashful-looking lion with its cub.

With a large back-log of blogs that have not materialized, I need to make a move! Here are some of the amazing noble beasts that I saw in May, in the Medieval section at the Victoria and Albert Museum, London. The lions in question were presented in many mediums - sculpted, carved, molded, painted and woven creatures.

Although the mighty lion might well be the king of the jungle, and therefore synonymous with royalty, the range of expressions on show here was quite extensive, and not merely regal or haughty!
Some of the representations were bas-reliefs, as in the above, in stone and then ivory...

The lions looked a little cowed or just plain quirky, but certainly not fierce!
The ones below were carved into stone to form the decoration of well heads, from mid-15th century Venice.

In fact, they often seem to adorn many of the forms of access to water. Below is the detail on a fountain basin from mid-16th century Verona; Italy...

Other lions support vessels and water once spouted from their open jaws...

 The following water spout emerges from a dragon's mouth that initially springs from the lion's mouth (late 15th century Lucca, Italy).

My favourite lions were perhaps those used as aquamaniles (water ewers) for the ceremonial washing of hands. The funny wisened expressions and pigeon-toed stances were unique!

Pillars of stone and wood were held up by valiant lions...

Or ones that looked more sheepish...

The following, rather worried-looking beast has guarded the monument of a Veronese military commander since the early 15th century.

The poor creature really does look as if he has the world on his shoulders - literally, whilst his tail curls beneath his legs...

Other lions seemed more carefree - clambering up pillars with their dense tails furling around them like marmoset monkeys.

Finally, the chivalric representations on stained glass bore the typical lionesque pose...

As did some of the woven and painted works, with lions demonstrating their strength, baring their teeth and powerful claws, ready to strike...

Proving their rightful place in the animal kingdom...

Although sometimes they did not seem too convinced of this themselves, and look on with quizzical expressions!