Lions and Gryphons....

[Acer Saccharum]

While poring over book of Medieval Gardens, comprised of woodcuts and engravings, I come across this woodcut. The lion looks so familiar. I realize that his mane, stance, and claw treatment is very similar to the Griffin gun carving, while his face reminds me of the lion from the 'Lion and Lamb' rifle, tho' this one is more cat-like than the rifle.

This very image is most likely not related to the Lion and Lamb or Griffin, but this was more likely a common treatment of the lion, which spanned many cultures and crossed many borders. Once a print was made, the image was easily transported. This could have been an illustration in a bible.

[Tom Currie]

Tom, I'd say that looks like an engraving project for you. Can you fit that all on a Jaeger ? 

[smart dog]

Hi Tom,
Unlike us, most colonial and American makers probably had little access to books filled with illustrations.  An illustrated bible probably was the single source for many.  Also, those gunmakers never saw a lion so they had little idea what they really looked like.  In my research on decorative designs I've noted that engravers in the 16th-18th centuries often engraved humans with accuracy and sophistication but rarely did the same with wild animals.  I suspect few ever saw those animals but they saw people every day.

dave

[Acer Saccharum]

Albrecht may have had some exposure to different prints and artwork, having been trained in Germany. But as you said, Dave, few American smiths would have had more than the bible to use as inspiration for their designs.

Tom

[flintriflesmith]

I think the "rampant lion" was widely known in Colonial American.

The Lion and Unicorn was the Royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom of the Hanoverian period (1714 – 1801) and is displayed on the Governor's Palace in Williamsburg

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:UK_Coat_of_Arms_Governor%27s_Palace.jpg

http://www.google.com/search?q=rampant+lion&hl=en&biw=1024&bih=614&prmd=ivns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=tn8TTq67PIHx0gH2upiQDg&sqi=2&ved=0CDUQsAQ


Gary

[smart dog]

Hi Gary,
I am sure you are absolutely correct but the lion rampant in heraldry was such an abstraction from the real thing and it usually did not show the facial details of the real big cats. Again, I don't think many carvers or engravers in Europe or America had any real experience with the actual animals they used as decoration.  They were so much better at depicting people.

dave 

[Acer Saccharum]

The lion on the Lion and Lamb gun has a human face. Rather than to try to make a cultural thing out of this, in my opinion, it is a naive effort of a fine folk artist.

Gary, thanks for reminding me of the rampant lions.

Tom

[Leatherbelly]

 Maple leaves!

[blunderbuss]

Maple leaves!

Maybe Canadaians