A rare pair of 15th century carved oak grotesque animal finials, East Anglia, circa 1450-1490 A rare pair of 15th century carved oak grotesque animal finials, East Anglia, circa 1450-1490 A rare pair of 15th century carved oak grotesque animal finials, East Anglia, circa 1450-1490 A rare pair of 15th century carved oak grotesque animal finials, East Anglia, circa 1450-1490 A rare pair of 15th century carved oak grotesque animal finials, East Anglia, circa 1450-1490 A rare pair of 15th century carved oak grotesque animal finials, East Anglia, circa 1450-1490 A rare pair of 15th century carved oak grotesque animal finials, East Anglia, circa 1450-1490 A rare pair of 15th century carved oak grotesque animal finials, East Anglia, circa 1450-1490 A rare pair of 15th century carved oak grotesque animal finials, East Anglia, circa 1450-1490 A rare pair of 15th century carved oak grotesque animal finials, East Anglia, circa 1450-1490 A rare pair of 15th century carved oak grotesque animal finials, East Anglia, circa 1450-1490 A rare pair of 15th century carved oak grotesque animal finials, East Anglia, circa 1450-1490 A rare pair of 15th century carved oak grotesque animal finials, East Anglia, circa 1450-1490 A rare pair of 15th century carved oak grotesque animal finials, East Anglia, circa 1450-1490 A rare pair of 15th century carved oak grotesque animal finials, East Anglia, circa 1450-1490 A rare pair of 15th century carved oak grotesque animal finials, East Anglia, circa 1450-1490 A rare pair of 15th century carved oak grotesque animal finials, East Anglia, circa 1450-1490 A rare pair of 15th century carved oak grotesque animal finials, East Anglia, circa 1450-1490 A rare pair of 15th century carved oak grotesque animal finials, East Anglia, circa 1450-1490 A rare pair of 15th century carved oak grotesque animal finials, East Anglia, circa 1450-1490 A rare pair of 15th century carved oak grotesque animal finials, East Anglia, circa 1450-1490 A rare pair of 15th century carved oak grotesque animal finials, East Anglia, circa 1450-1490 A rare pair of 15th century carved oak grotesque animal finials, East Anglia, circa 1450-1490 A rare pair of 15th century carved oak grotesque animal finials, East Anglia, circa 1450-1490 A rare pair of 15th century carved oak grotesque animal finials, East Anglia, circa 1450-1490 A rare pair of 15th century carved oak grotesque animal finials, East Anglia, circa 1450-1490 A rare pair of 15th century carved oak grotesque animal finials, East Anglia, circa 1450-1490

A rare pair of 15th century carved oak grotesque animal finials, East Anglia, circa 1450-1490

REF: 4412

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Each originally forming the elbow of a pew-end, one a griffin, with folded wings, the other leonine, with mane and tail, but with two faces, possibly representing the lion's ability to sleep with one eye open, thereby guarding against sin and the devil. The projecting tongue to one face may indicate the jaws having been forced open by Samson (Judges 14.6), each on a gilt plinth, largest dimensions excluding plinth, (2)

See the V&A Collection, London, acc. no. W.95-1911 for a pew end with comparable elbow finials, illustrated Charles Tracy 'English Medieval Furniture & Woodwork' (1988) pp.106 -107, cat. no.184.
For comparable extant examples in Suffolk churches see St. George, Stowlangtoft and St. Mary, Dennington

  • Height 29.5 cm / 11 "
  • Width 7.5 cm / 3 "
  • Depth 17.5 cm / 7"

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