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Lot Essay
Falcons and lions are popular subjects for depiction, both in painting and in sculpture. Guinea fowl are distinctly rarer; a creature used for the pot does not have the same symbolism as something that kills for its own meals. But there is little doubt that that is what is depicted here; the very rounded body with the disproportionately small brain surmounted by a prominent crest is typical of this bird. Maybe it is its use as a "watchdog" (it gobbles loudly at the least alarm) that inspired the sculptor of the present work. The wild guinea fowl (Numidea meleagris) is a bird more recently of African origin, although the earliest fossil example was found in Czechoslovakia, indicating that it was once also native to Europe.
While we cannot rule out an origin from the Egyptian region, it seems from various stylistic features that this is more likely to have been made in Spain, or possibly even North West Africa. The palmette scrolls on the wings are very close to those seen on larger animals such as the Monzon lion (Al-Andalus, exhibition catalogue, New York, 1989, no.54. pp.270-1). The feathering on the breast is combined with drilled dots which are found on most of the Spanish figural sculptures. The eyes protrude prominently and centrally from a surface which is otherwise flat. The upper leg panels with the protruding point and engraved with a split palmette are also very similar to those of the lion handle of the incense burner in this sale (lot 225). It does also seem to be the guinea fowl which processes in its roundels in decorative bands on a number of Spanish bronzes including our lamp.
While we cannot rule out an origin from the Egyptian region, it seems from various stylistic features that this is more likely to have been made in Spain, or possibly even North West Africa. The palmette scrolls on the wings are very close to those seen on larger animals such as the Monzon lion (Al-Andalus, exhibition catalogue, New York, 1989, no.54. pp.270-1). The feathering on the breast is combined with drilled dots which are found on most of the Spanish figural sculptures. The eyes protrude prominently and centrally from a surface which is otherwise flat. The upper leg panels with the protruding point and engraved with a split palmette are also very similar to those of the lion handle of the incense burner in this sale (lot 225). It does also seem to be the guinea fowl which processes in its roundels in decorative bands on a number of Spanish bronzes including our lamp.