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https://www.decorativecollective.com/dealers/doe-and-hopeIn original condition, the hand painted terracotta lion painted in an naïve style, to an integral oval base, the whole being beautifully timeworn and surviving from the first quarter of the nineteenth century.
The condition is tired which is part of its appeal with chipping to the paintwork as photographed, though importantly there is no restoration or any re-painting having been administered. He appears to be unmarked.
Lions have been a common theme in art for centuries, representing strength and (especially in Britain) a regal or majestic animal. Their exoticism and yet feline familiarity made them popular with the British public, leading to their production by 19th century potters and carvers. A terracotta piece of this type is almost impossible to attribute with any certainty though in terms of country of origin, through its style we can conclude it is either Italian or French in descent.
Wonderfully decorative.