Winged Dragon Chimera
Unknown
American Art
On View: Steinberg Family Sculpture Garden, 1st Floor
This fierce and fantastic creature, sitting on his haunches and clutching a shield, seems to be a cross between two mythical monsters: a griffin (with an eagle's head and wings and the body of a lion) combined with a dragon. This lively sculpture came from the facade of a building that formerly stood in the financial district in Lower Manhattan.
MEDIUM
Limestone
DATES
ca. 1900
DIMENSIONS
63 1/2 x 26 x 28 in. (161.3 x 66 x 71.1 cm)
ACCESSION NUMBER
74.168
CREDIT LINE
Gift of G.C. O'Brien, Inc. in memory of G.C. O'Brien
CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION
This carved limestone winged dragon, standing behind a shield, was salvaged from a building at the northeast corner of Liberty and William streets, in Lower Manhattan, in 1974. The unusual dragon chimera was located on the corner of the building, several stories up. The museum was alerted to the demolition of the building, and the salvage opportunity, by a Brooklyn resident.
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