Design for a Covered Tureen on a Footed Stand 1759 - 1816

This is Henri Auguste's "Design for a Covered Tureen on a Footed Stand," rendered in pen and ink. Note the tureen’s handles and the feet of its stand: they are adorned with winged lion heads. Since antiquity, the lion has been a symbol of power, courage, and royalty, often associated with solar deities. The addition of wings compounds this symbolism, representing the transcendence of earthly power to divine authority. We see echoes of this motif through the ages, from the Lion-headed God in ancient Mithraic mysteries to the winged lion representing Saint Mark the Evangelist. The persistence of this symbol reveals a deep-seated human fascination with the fusion of earthly might and divine grace. Consider how this image, with its rich layers of historical meaning, engages our collective memory, evoking sensations of awe and respect. The powerful symbolism resonates even today, a testament to its enduring cultural significance.