CANDLE HOLDER IN THE SHAPE OF A WINGED LION

Description The candle holder takes the form of a winged lion curled up on the four short legs that make up the object's feet. The body is cylindrical, narrowed in the center and rounded at the ends. The lion's head stands massive on one side, while the candle holder consists of a small truncated cone-shaped opening on the animal's rump. The details are raised and densely engraved parallel lines underline some parts of the body. The theme of the winged lion, an apotropaic figure made in large, round dimensions, or in the small format of funerary objects, was very popular starting from the 2nd century CE. Candelabra like this are common in tombs of the Wu Kingdom and the Western Jin Dynasty, but seem to go out of fashion during the 4th century.