Alms pouch embroidered with a griffin, Cl. 11788 © GrandPalaisRmn / Jean-Gilles Berizzi

Alms pouch embroidered with a griffin, Cl. 11788 © GrandPalaisRmn / Jean-Gilles Berizzi

Alms pouch embroidered with a griffin, Cl. 11788 (detail) © GrandPalaisRmn / Jean-Gilles Berizzi

Alms pouch embroidered with a griffin, Cl. 11788 (detail) © GrandPalaisRmn / Jean-Gilles Berizzi

Alms pouch embroidered with a griffin, Cl. 11788 (detail) © GrandPalaisRmn / Jean-Gilles Berizzi

Alms pouch embroidered with a griffin, Cl. 11788 (detail) © GrandPalaisRmn / Jean-Gilles Berizzi

Alms pouch embroidered with a griffin

Description

Not on display

14th century

Late Middle Ages

An accessory of men's attire, like its counterpart Cl. 11787, this alms pouch is embroidered with an enigmatic scene: an angel atop a griffon (a hybrid of an eagle and a lion) at a gallop, ridden by a woman sitting backwards who is aiming at a rabbit with her bow.

Is it an image of purity prevailing over passions? Or a love allegory, in which the angel identified with the god of Love gives its arrows to the woman?

The decoration of the angel's surcoat and the woman's cotte (tunic) is inspired by oriental fabrics.
 

From one artwork to another

Tenture de la Vie Seigneuriale, La Promenade, Cl. 2178 © GrandPalaisRmn / Franck Raux

La Vie Seigneuriale

Début du XVIe siècle

Pilgrimage badge, Notre-Dame, Cl. 4697 © GrandPalaisRmn / Michel Urtado

Pilgrimage badges

13th century - 14th century - 15th century