Back To Tapestries Home Page  This is a beautiful tapestry "Gryphons - Guardians of Treasure". Dimensions of the tapestry: 16.8" x 22.4" . Material: Machine-Woven Cotton, Viscose, Lavsan; Ready For Framing (Click here to see details); Brand New. We can make this tapestry ready for hanging on a rod. Click here to see details. Manufacturer was established in 1845 and became a branch of the Britain Coats company later. This tapestry features the mysterious gryphons from the famous bridge located in the heart of St. Petersburg. Gryphons (or griffins) are mythological creatures that have the head and wings of an eagle and the body of a lion. Gryphons, like birds, built nests, or eyries (aeries), as the nest of a bird of prey is called. The Gryphons laid an agate, rather than an egg, therein. They are well known for their speed, ability to fly and having eyes like an eagle, as well as the strength and courage of a lion. Gryphons were reputed to find gold in mountains and made their nests (eyries) from it. Gryphons were said to have a sixth sense, the ability to know where to look for gold. This idea may have derived from the commonly held belief that Dragons hoard gold in caves. Because of this, people would often go in search of eyries with the intent of stealing the Gryphon's gold. To protect their nests, Gryphons kept a constant look-out and would fight off any intruder viciously. One Greek man who lived 3,000 years ago called Aristeas witnessed the Gryphons killing those who tried to steal their treasure. They are found in Greek mythology, neighbors of the Hyperboreans and belonging to Zeus, they took gold from the stream Arimaspias, the one-eyed people of Scythia. Milton borrows a simile from the Griffins, Paradise Lost, Book II.: "As when a Gryphon through the wilderness, With winged course, o'er hill and moory dale, Pursues the Arimaspian who by stealth Hath from his wakeful custody purloined His guarded gold." In Arts, Gryphons have also always been depicted as guardians of treasure. The famous bridge, shown on this tapestry, is no exception. This bridge, guarded by four mythological griffins, is located in front of the former State Banknote Bank, as a symbol of its prosperity, and is called the Bank Bridge. This bridge was designed by the engineer V. Tretter and was built between 1825 and 1826. Pavel Sokolov crafted the fantastic mythological cast-iron animals. Four griffons perch on the bridge's piers, resplendent with their lions' bodies and wings of gold. Lamps protrude form the griffons' heads. Tretter drew the design for the mythical griffins and Sokolov sculpted them from his design. The bodies of the griffins are made of cast-iron and their wings are made of copper. This is a picture of the original bridge:  Great gift that is suitable for any interior design. |
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