Statue(fragment) of Foot Carved

myminifactory

Carved foot with high shoe closed by two crossed laces, one at kick level, the other at ankle. Laces are tied to drop ends on both sides of foot. Rings attached to shoe edge allow lace passage, clearly visible on kick. Ankle lace slips into lion's mouth on upper part. Shoe edge features decorative rim forming arches, while foot tip presents relief of Gorgon's head against scallop umbrella. This shoe appears to be a "campagus", rising imperial shoe enclosing heel and toes while exposing top of foot. Sculptor represented finger modeling, indicating fine supple leather used for this type of shoe. Upper part of work is probably recent addition (16th or 17th centuries?). Marble shows slight yellow tint and thicker grain. Front features lion's muzzle with lace passage. Summit boasts deeply carved face or lion's head with mouth wide open. Pupils are marked, and bottom of head is surrounded by scrolls evoking fleur de lys when viewed upside down. Center of work has 1.5 cm depression suggesting another element was added, as evidenced by whitish plaster residue. Provenance remains unknown along with original destination. Dating upper part's addition is also challenging. Carved foot was donated to Museum of Antiques by Bernard Lange before 1835, appearing in Alexander Du Mege's catalog. Before belonging to Lange, it belonged to Sainte-Geneviève library collections: M. Mongez, Guard of Antiques and Cabinet of History, mentioned it in "campagus" article of "The Methodical Encyclopedia" (1786). E. Saglio confirmed this information in "Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities" (1887) article. Representation of work was published in 1719 by Bernard de Montfaucon's "Antiquity Explained". It belonged to Marquis de Montauban, already as we know it.