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A pair of unusual carved gritstone models of stylised leopards English, probably north country, possibly 15th century (2) image 1
A pair of unusual carved gritstone models of stylised leopards English, probably north country, possibly 15th century (2) image 2
A pair of unusual carved gritstone models of stylised leopards English, probably north country, possibly 15th century (2) image 3
A Private Collection From an Early 15th Century Sussex Manor House
Lot 26TP

A pair of unusual carved gritstone models of stylised leopards
English, probably north country, possibly 15th century

Vernacular Furniture, Naïve Art, and Textiles
23 September – 7 October 2025, 12:00 BST
Online, London, Knightsbridge

Sold for £8,320 inc. premium

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A pair of unusual carved gritstone models of stylised leopards

English, probably north country, possibly 15th century
The fantastical beasts of elongated form with textured coats wearing buckled collars, their long tails flush alongside their bodies, their roaring open jaws exposing their teeth, their legs now lacking their paws, 22cm high, 76cm wide, 20cm deep, and 28cm high, 72cm wide 20cm, 15cm deep overall respectively (2)

Footnotes

Provenance
Until now the offered lot formed part of a collection of furniture and works of art, ranging from the 15th century to the 18th century, which furnished an early 15th century Sussex manor house. This collection was amassed predominantly over the course of the last quarter of the previous century; it includes a number of rare and, in a few instances, very early pieces.

These fantastical models most likely date from the late 15th century. Carved from North Country gritstone, they feature elongated bodies with striated, tiger-like stripes, long moulded tails curling along their forms, and small heads with rounded, leopard-like ears. Although the models are incomplete, lacking their original feet and show no attempt at realism, it seems likely that they were intended to depict either leopards, which in heraldic terms conveyed vigilance, courage, and exoticism, or perhaps tigers. In this way, the models reflect the imaginative approach of late medieval sculpture, blending conventional animal forms with fantastical embellishment, whilst also drawing upon illustrations of exotic beasts from illuminated bestiary manuscripts.

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