The Lion within

Mounted pin-brooch, 2007 aterials: 20ct gold, silver, carved engraved and stained bone (recycled), 2nd century AD Roman glass bead-fragment, malachite, 18ct white gold pin

height (without pin): 33mm width: 43mm ount: mixed media Signed and dated on back of book artist’s no: 405.MP-B.07 hidden alche y: 206-7

Like any habitué of Venice, I have long been accustomed to sense the deep, unheard growl and imperious but silent rustle of feathers which alert us – mortals that we are – to the fierce presence of the City’s guardian Lions of Saint Mark. Despite their being exclusively male, they have managed yet to breed prodigiously, haunting every aspect of their rightful locus, which they continue to rule with all the intimidating, impatient authority of great age. How wonderful, then, to meet a shy, domestic example, unconcerned about bella figura: the small bronze evangelical lion in the Wallace Collection [S237] is pierced vertically, and quite likely formed a quarter part of the support of an altar-cross, a candle or processional mace. Modelled and cast in 16th century Germany, perhaps in Augsburg, he has long been a favourite pet of mine, which is why I have transcribed him in scale and material to be hidden safely away inside the hollowed gospel of St. Mark, now also a book-within-a-book, in the hope that he will bring something of his charm to the first page in this Notebook of Pins.