12th / 13th Cty, Giant Stone Carved Gargoyle, Roman Period

Haute Epoque

The monster is in fact on the right of the main photo ! ????????

Stunning giant stone carved gargoyle from Roman period 12 or 13th centuries.

Both its condition, its giant size, its thema than its carving quality are fantastic

The very large monster illustrate perfectly the taste from this medieval period for Fantastic bestiary. Carving work is very detailed, specially with its wings, its ribs appearing under its chest. Her strong expression and the movement of its body really give the impression that she 's screaming in a hellish way. It's as often a fantastic or legendary animal, half-lion, half dragon, half-fawn and or half-mythical animal ... Its powerful claws encircle the zoomorphic head of a second creature, seeming more peaceful but just as curious !

To compare with another annoucement put online a few days before on my account for similar gargoyle sculpture of the same period, also of exceptional quality. Note here that the 2 sculptures come from the same private collection, on a rather inusual thema given the extreme rarity of these gargoyles of the Middle Ages and their incredible condition.

The gargoyle can be presented standing, perpendicular to its original position when it was mounted on a building (certainly on a coin and / or very protected by a roof, given its impeccable condition.

Sizes 97cm long by 36cm large and 84cm high

!!! Weight is around 300kg or more. Delivery only on a palett with shipping company 

"Etymologically, the word gargouille comes from the Greek gargareôn meaning "throat" and "gouille" from the old French goule: " mouth". It was in 13th century that the first gargoyles appeared. They were only simple wide gutters, made up of two parts: one serving as a channel and the other as a cover. Subsequently, the architects multiply them, in order to divide the waterfalls.They then become real decorative elements.They represent animals, mythical creatures, chimerical beings, frightening anthropomorphic creatures or humans with an obscene or amoral attitude. Gargoyles had a triple function. Firstly, their practical function as a gutter ensuring the evacuation of rainwater in small streams, far from the surrounding walls of buildings, thus avoiding undermining the integrity of the walls. Their second function was decorative. Their third function was symbolic. They played an apotropaic role in warding off evil. Their menacing aspect, their grimaces and their ferocity were intended to chase away evil. They thus protected the churches while warning the faithful against temptations from the outside..."

To anticipate any unnecessary question, it is neither concrete nor a modern reconstituted stone, but a rare witness of the Middle Ages of major interest.