Opposing pair of large male lion statues with paws raised on top of spheres, cast stone with quartz aggregate and white lime wash, cast with fine detail. Circa 1950, . .43"H. 46"W. 15"D. Excellent condition. Provenance Baltimore estate. These are after the "Medici Lions" (1589) standing at the Loggia Dei Lanzi Piazza Della Signoria in Florence, Italy. The "Medici Lions" were commissioned by Ferdinando 1 de Medici, grand Duke of Tuscany, and originally set in the Loggia dei Lioni at Villa Medici, Rome to ornate the villa's garden staircase. The basis for the design was an antique Roman marble relief. This was worked up as a full figure by Giovanni di Scherano Fancelli in circa 1598, and accompanied by a mirror-image version by a contemporary sculptor Flaminio Vacca (1538-1605).The original pair remained in Rome until 1789, before being moved to Florence. They can be seen today at the Loggia dei Lanze in Florence, Italy.