An unusual mid-17th century polychrome-decorated carved oak panel, Dutch, circa 1650


Carved with a lion walking on its hind legs, a palm aloft in one paw, its other holding the leading rein of a bridled horse, being ridden side-saddle by a female figure holding a cornucopia of fruit and flowers, 33cm wide x 2cm deep x 18cm high, (12 1/2in wide x 0 1/2in deep x 7in high)
|Although the attributes carried by the Lion do not conform to those carried by the Dutch Lion - a sword and seven arrows - it may be that the lion here represents the Dutch states leading Europa, shown here mounted and with a cornucopia, representing their power as part of the Dutch Golden Age in the 17th century. The most famous representations of the Low Countries in the form of a lion were late 16th and early 17th century maps, in which Dutch territories were drawn within the shape of a lion.