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Together with a similar piece now at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York (inv. 10.134.5), this statuette may originally have been the foot of a large candlestick or of another similar object. Creatures with a human head and a bird's body (called sirens or harpies) were first described by the ancient Greek poet Homer as luring sailors with their enchanting singing and causing shipwrecks. For medieval Christians, they symbolized temptation. Here, the serpent-shaped tail further emphasizes the siren's evil nature. The figurine's position at the base of a large object would have signified the overcoming of sin.

Page data

Page
1
Source index
0
Type
photo
Media ID
c0b72acfa3a06f5f
Size
unknown

Document data

ID
21421
Core
obj
Type
object
DTO data
{
    "id": "21421",
    "sourceUrl": "https://purl.thewalters.org/art/54.233",
    "contentType": "object",
    "stage": "normalized",
    "title": "Sphinx",
    "description": "Together with a similar piece now at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York (inv. 10.134.5), this statuette may originally have been the foot of a large candlestick or of another similar object. Creatures with a human head and a bird's body (called sirens or harpies) were first described by the ancient Greek poet Homer as luring sailors with their enchanting singing and causing shipwrecks. For medieval Christians, they symbolized temptation. Here, the serpent-shaped tail further emphasizes the siren's evil nature. The figurine's position at the base of a large object would have signified the overcoming of sin.",
    "provenance": "Henri de Lannoy, Paris, by purchase; Henri Daguerre, Paris [date of acquisistion unknown], by purchase; Henry Walters, Baltimore, 1909, by purchase; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.",
    "date": "ca. 1200 (Medieval)",
    "citationUrl": "https://purl.thewalters.org/art/54.233",
    "rightsUri": "CC0",
    "language": "en",
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        "Metal",
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    ],
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    "source": "import",
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            "height": 11.5
        }
    ],
    "dimensionsRaw": "4 13/16 x 4 1/2 in. (12.2 x 11.5 cm)"
}

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Document identity
{
    "localId": "21421",
    "label": "Sphinx",
    "core": "obj",
    "dtoType": "object",
    "citationUrl": "https://purl.thewalters.org/art/54.233"
}
Document source metadata
{
    "id": "21421",
    "sourceUrl": "https://purl.thewalters.org/art/54.233",
    "contentType": "object",
    "stage": "normalized",
    "title": "Sphinx",
    "description": "Together with a similar piece now at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York (inv. 10.134.5), this statuette may originally have been the foot of a large candlestick or of another similar object. Creatures with a human head and a bird's body (called sirens or harpies) were first described by the ancient Greek poet Homer as luring sailors with their enchanting singing and causing shipwrecks. For medieval Christians, they symbolized temptation. Here, the serpent-shaped tail further emphasizes the siren's evil nature. The figurine's position at the base of a large object would have signified the overcoming of sin.",
    "provenance": "Henri de Lannoy, Paris, by purchase; Henri Daguerre, Paris [date of acquisistion unknown], by purchase; Henry Walters, Baltimore, 1909, by purchase; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.",
    "date": "ca. 1200 (Medieval)",
    "citationUrl": "https://purl.thewalters.org/art/54.233",
    "rightsUri": "CC0",
    "language": "en",
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    "iiifBase": "https://art.thewalters.org/images/art/PL1_54.233_Prof_TR_T01IV.jpg",
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    "largeImageUrl": "https://art.thewalters.org/images/art/PL1_54.233_Prof_TR_T01IV.jpg",
    "imageCount": 1,
    "pageCount": 1,
    "source": "import",
    "dimensions": [
        {
            "units": "cm",
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        }
    ],
    "dimensionsRaw": "4 13/16 x 4 1/2 in. (12.2 x 11.5 cm)"
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Document source extras
{
    "cul": "French",
    "style": "Gothic",
    "med": "bronze",
    "creator_ids": [
        "6505"
    ],
    "collection_ids": [
        "MED"
    ],
    "exhibition_ids": [
        "1957",
        "246"
    ]
}
Page context
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