Fountain Mouth: Lion Mask, Gilt Bronze, Germany, 16th-17th Century

This decorative bronze mask is characteristic of the production of German fountain mouths from the end of the 16th and the very beginning of the 17th century. A rare example having retained its beautiful gilding, this work offers a striking testimony to the sumptuous fountains decorated during the Renaissance, reflecting the evolution of the conception of water in the 16th century as a decorative and symbolic element, playing a central role in beautification. gardens, squares and prestigious residences of the time. Representing a stylized lion, its wide open mouth once served as an outlet for the water that flowed from it. Captivating and theatrical, this work combines its utilitarian function with a refined aesthetic, testifying to the know-how and artistic creativity of artists of the late Renaissance in Europe.