Creative Commons License
Creative Commons License
Creative Commons License
Creative Commons License
Ceiling Tile (socarrat) with a Lion's Head
(Renaissance Europe )
Lions are often depicted on ceiling tiles of this kind, but the stylized frontal view of the animal's head here is quite unusual and was probably influenced by similar images on glazed ceramic dishes. The piece once belonged to the newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst (1863-1951). Nothing is known about its earlier provenance. Most comparable examples of known origin come from the town of Paterna, evidently the principal center of socarrat production.
Provenance
Provenance (from the French provenir, 'to come from/forth') is the chronology of the ownership, custody, or location of a historical object. Learn more about provenance at the Walters.
William R. Hearst, San Simeon, California, ca. 1930, by purchase; Hearst estate, 1951, by bequest, inv. 2597, lot s/b 569, no. 28; Walters Art Museum, 1958, by purchase.
Exhibitions
| 2008-2009 | Realms of Faith: Medieval and Byzantine Art from the Walters Art Museum. Museum of Biblical Art, New York; Colby College Museum of Art, Waterville; Joslyn Art Museum, Omaha. |
Geographies
Spain, Valencia (Place of Origin)
Measurements
H: 13 7/8 x W: 17 1/8 x D: 1 in. (35.3 x 43.5 x 2.5 cm)
Credit Line
Museum purchase, 1958
Location in Museum
Not on view
Accession Number
In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.
In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.
48.2106.5