Porphyry support for a water basin

A carved red porphyry support shaped as a shallow arc, with a lion's forepart at each end and a central urn framed by spiraling scrolls. The dense purple-red stone is polished, and the piece rests on a plain rectangular base.

Look closer: The lion's paws curl over the lower edge of the base at the left end.

Artist

Unknown

Date

2nd century CE

Medium

Porphyry

Source

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Size

4000 × 2335 px

Credit (appreciated, not required for public-domain works): The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, 1992