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Finial with masks and figures

WB.264     1500–1550 • Boxwood • terminal

Curator's Description

Finial; boxwood; carved in form of two terminal figures with intertwined tails; lion mask and human mask between them.

This object was previously owned by David Falcke, collected by Anselm von Rothschild and bequeathed to the British Museum by Ferdinand Anselm Rothschild.

Made In

France ?
French

What is it?

terminal

Made Of

boxwood

Techniques

carved

Subjects

mammal

How big is it?

3 cm wide, 3.4 cm high, 1.9 cm deep, and it weighs 5g

Where is it?

London / The British Museum / Room 2A / Case 7f 1

Floor plan 2 3a 3b 4a 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 6c 6d 6e 6f 6g 6h 7a 7b 7c 7d 7e 7f 7g 7h 7i 7j Entrance

Detailed Curatorial Notes

Possibly for the lower end of a dagger sheath.

Provenance : Baron Anselm von Rothschild, Vienna, between 1866 and 1872 (cat no. 499). Previously in the collection of David Falke, appears in Falke Sale, Christie and Manson, London, 19 April 1858, lot 829.

Bibliography

  • Charles Hercules Read, 'The Waddesdon Bequest: Catalogue of the Works of Art bequeathed to the British Museum by Baron Ferdinand Rothschild, M.P., 1898', London, 1902, no. 264
  • O.M. Dalton, 'The Waddesdon Bequest', 2nd edn (rev), British Museum, London, 1927, no.264.

    • References

    1. Read 1902: Read, Charles Hercules, The Waddesdon Bequest. Catalogue of the Works of Art Bequeathed to the British Museum by Baron Ferdinand Rothschild, M.P., 1898, London, BMP, 1902
    2. Dalton 1927: Dalton, Ormonde Maddock, The Waddesdon Bequest : jewels, plate, and other works of art bequeathed by Baron Ferdinand Rothschild., London, BMP, 1927

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