Italian Octagonal Bowl of Carved Siena Marble With Religious Motifs

Description

A fine Italian eight-sided bowl centerpiece of Siena marble, featuring a carved design around the top and circumference with four … more A fine Italian eight-sided bowl centerpiece of Siena marble, featuring a carved design around the top and circumference with four alternating cartouches depicting Christian religious symbols - a Maltese cross, a Greek Cross, an Occitan or Cathar cross, and a lion with wings representing Saint Mark and open tablet reading "pax tibi marce evangelista meus" ("Peace be with thee, O Mark, my evangelist")

The Lion of Saint Mark, representing Mark the Evangelist, in the form of a winged lion, is an aspect of the Tetramorph. On the pinnacle of St Mark's Cathedral he is depicted as holding a Bible, and surmounting a golden lion which is the symbol of the city of Venice and formerly of the Venetian Republic.

H 6.25 inch x W 12.5 inch x D 12.5 inch less