Medieval Period - 15th Century English Antique Carved Stone Grotesque

This 15th-century carved stone grotesque features a crouching animal figure, likely a lion or dog, emerging from a weathered sandstone base. The creature displays characteristic medieval craftsmanship with defined facial features including hollow eyes, an open mouth revealing teeth, and a compact, muscular body position. The stone shows natural aging and patina consistent with centuries of exposure, with variations in color from beige to gray. The piece served as an architectural ornament, originally part of a larger medieval building structure.

Provenance: 15th-century. England. Stored in a garden in Nottingham.

Condition: Weathered. Please refer to the images 

Dimensions: Length 26.04 cm (10 1/4") x Height 17.78 cm (7 7/8")  x Width 17.15 cm (6 3/4")

Historical Context:
Grotesques emerged in medieval European architecture during the Romanesque and Gothic periods, reaching peak popularity from the 12th through 16th centuries. Unlike gargoyles, which functioned as water spouts, grotesques were purely decorative elements designed to adorn churches, cathedrals, castles, and civic buildings.
These fantastical carvings served multiple purposes: they were believed to ward off evil spirits and protect sacred spaces, provide moral instruction to largely illiterate congregations through visual storytelling, and demonstrate the stone carvers' artistic skill and imagination. The creatures often depicted animals, mythical beasts, or hybrid forms that represented the chaos and danger existing outside the church's protective walls, reinforcing the building as a sanctuary.
By the 15th century, grotesques had become increasingly elaborate and varied in design, reflecting both religious symbolism and the medieval worldview that populated the unknown with mysterious and fearsome creatures.