Name of Object:Sitting lion Location:Algiers, Algeria Holding Museum:National Museum of Antiquities and Islamic Arts About National Museum of Antiquities and Islamic Arts, Algiers Date of Object:Hegira 406–547 / AD 1015–1152 Museum Inventory Number:II.S.27 Material(s) / Technique(s):Carved and sculpted grey marble. Dimensions:Length 40.5 cm, width 24 cm, diameter 12 cm Period / Dynasty:Hammadid Provenance:Qal’at Bani Hammad, Algeria. Description:Made of grey marble in a parallelepiped form that is sculpted, this object features a lion sitting on its hind legs rendered flat against the surface of a lower part of a segment of arch. The head of the animal is far larger than its body. Its eyes are globular and wide open, and its fully opened mouth reveals tightly clenched teeth, giving the face a ferocious air. View Short DescriptionThis marble piece is a sculpture of a lion with a disproportionately large head and a wide open mouth that was probably part of a doorway arch. Its tail is flattened against its left-hand side and the carved curls represent its fur. How date and origin were established:Archaeological repository (De Beylié excavations, 1908). How Object was obtained:Gift from L.Leschi. How provenance was established:The object was found on the site of the Qal'at Bani Hammad. Selected bibliography:Golvin, L., Recherches archéologiques à la Qal'a des Banû Hammâd, Paris, 1965. Citation of this web page:Ali Benbella "Sitting lion" in Discover Islamic Art, Museum With No Frontiers, 2024. https://islamicart.museumwnf.org/database_item.php?id=object;ISL;dz;Mus01;8;en Prepared by: Ali Benbella
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