Journal - Comune di Monteleone di Spoleto

V.46 left lion head, front
86
V.47 left lion head, top view V.48 left lion head, profile
8. Left lion head (Figures V.46 – V.48)
H. of relief 2 1⁄4 in. (5.5 cm); diam. of base: exterior
2 1⁄8 – 2 1⁄4 in. (5.5 – 5.6 cm), interior 1¾ – 2 in. (4.5 – 5 cm)
Description. Same shape as cat. 7.
Condition. The head is complete. There are small losses due
to pitting corrosion, mostly centered on the top right side of
the brow and on the muzzle. The surface is largely metallic,
with thin brown and thicker black tarnish; there is massive
green corrosion associated with blistering, especially on
the left side of the face, under the chin, and on the brow.
There is solder/solder-related corrosion corresponding to
the placement of the kouros’s feet on top of the head; there
is solder on the edge of the flange below the left ear.
Technical observations. The lion heads (cats. 7 and 8) were
mounted as axle finials in the 1903 restoration (see Sections
i.d, i.F). in the recent restoration, they were placed in their
original position under the feet of the kouroi, where traces
of their original location were still clearly visible. This lion
head certainly belongs under the proper left kouros (cat. 4a)
because one of the two ancient nail holes on the lion’s
flange perfectly matches up with a hole in the corner of the
left frieze.
Repoussé and tracing. The types of tools and methods used
for working both heads are the same as for the three main
panels. The bronze sheet of the proper right head is slightly
thinner than the other; in all likelihood this is due to the fact
that the amount of bronze prepared for the two heads was
not accurately weighed.
9. Right strip with recumbent lion (Figures V.49, V.50)
l. 11 7⁄8 in. (30 cm), W. 1 5⁄8 – 3⁄4 in. (4 – 2 cm), H. of relief 3⁄4 in.
(1.8 cm)
Description. The curved strip was created to finish the base
of the front panel and attach it to the floor frame. The bottom
edge of the strip and its counterpart (cat. 10) were therefore
bent at a 90-degree angle. This strip has four convex ribs
that decrease in size from the center out. The left end has
been hammered out to create a small recumbent lion in
high relief facing left. The lion is not applied but of a piece
with the strip. There are four small original holes for the
nails used to mount the strip; the other nine date to the 1903
restoration.
The lion is well rendered and its muzzle resembles those
of the lion heads (cats. 7 and 8). executed in relief and tracing,
the mane forms a crown that frames the forehead. The
mane then flows over the lion’s back in flame-shaped locks
along both sides of a traced central line.
Condition. The piece retains its original shape, except for
dents on the lion’s head and back. There are small losses
and cracking along the edge of the strip. Part of the surface
is metallic, with superficial brown tarnish and thin layers of
black corrosion on the lion; the other part is covered with
green corrosion.
Technical observations. The undecorated end of the strip
was attached to the wood by two small nails. a short section
of it was covered by the boar protome, as indicated by two
rows of three small indentations on the metal. The decorated
end — which was attached below by two small nails —
is concave, to accommodate the lion head (cat. 7) when the
various elements were assembled.
This strip is crucial for our reconstruction on paper of the
u-shaped curve of the chassis of the chariot (Figures ii.15,
iii.1). it is slightly more open than the reconstruction made
on the chariot itself. The modern frame for the object needed
to respect the deformed central panel that had closed
slightly once the original wood decayed.
Repoussé and tracing. The types of tools used are the same
as for the three main panels.