The Lion of St Mark (?)

This statuette representing a lion with a semi-human face was bought from Captain R. Hollocombe in Mexico, where it was said to have been excarvated, although no further details are known. This is perhaps Latin American, possibly dating from about 1700-1750. The lion may have been originally the companion of a statue of St Mark, or may have been part of a crib. Similar lions with a semi-human face are to be seen accompanying St Jerome at Quito, Equador, Bogotà, Columbia, Juli, Peru and at Guatemala City.