Let Sleeping Lions Lie

This is a bit strange. Most lions on buildings are on guard. This one looks like it's sleeping.



He's actually not sleeping. His eyes are open, but he has quite a passive pose like he's lounging around in the heat.

St. Louis Lion Building

This building apparently needs protection because it is plastered with lions. I like it and them!
It is right in downtown St. Louis.

Supporting Detail

This is a detail from under the eagle from yesterday. I love this as well.


The lion above for protection (who looks a bit high-maintenance with the mane teased that high.) Then there is the struggle of man below; He looks like he is pulling himself up, or at least holding on with some effort because of the look on his face. The ripe, round fruit frames the scene above with plenty. And then there is the texture below that looks like a spine with leaves on the side. It's very random and very interesting.

The expressive nature of the shapes is what gets me.

Another Great Door Handle

I love this, so I'm keeping it up a couple of days. (Also, it's exam time. I can't post everyday right now. :) )



I can't really tell if this is supposed to be a lion or another imaginary creature, but I love it.

Iron Work as Water and Other Natural Forms

As I stated before, Passau is where three rivers come together, and they have had a lot of flooding over the years, so it is appropriate to have architectural elements relating to water. I do not recall seeing this type of iron work other places, but now I will keep an eye out for it.





I love these two designs. The lion on the bottom is the symbol of Passau.

More Baroque Lions

This lion is so cute with his human ears and teeth, and cartoon-shaped mouth and nose. I love that these sculptors had never seen a lion in person. The lack of naturalism makes them more interesting to me.



This is on the way up the steps to the museum half of the Melk Abby.

Figures in Vienna

The first three figures are on buildings right by the Opera house in Vienna, and the last two are in the Unsere Gardens.



Look at this strong stud. Holding up the building with a lion carcass clothing him.

This is a sculpture of Johann Strauss.

T & A in Architecture

I hope the title is not too gratuitous for my readers/viewers.




These pictures were both taken the same day at the Belvedere Palace. When I took the picture of the Lion's butt, I just thought it was funny looking lion's butt. Now when I look at it it looks like the sculptor was looking at a human behind, which makes it funny in a different way.

More Mátyás Templom

A sculpture of the King, St. Mátyás who the church is known (not named) after. (See previous post.) With Fishermen's Bastion in the background, which dates back to Medieval times.


Zooming in on the pedestal of the sculpture from above.


The side of Mátyás Templom that is not under construction right now (everything in Budapest is under construction right now!)

Random Building Elements in Buda

These elements are from buildings right along the river on the Buda side of Budapest between the Szénchenyi Lánchíd and Erzsébet Híd.
I love the leaves around the lion's head, and I like how the lion's teeth are so pointy yet it is holding the fruits of plenty so gently.


The faces from the second building are just emerging from the flowers, which makes them look like they have turtlenecks on. They look so stiff yet they have such serene looks on their faces.

Széchenyi Lánchíd

Széchenyi Lánchíd=Széchenyi Chain Bridge, and is the most famous and oldest bridge in Budapest. It is a suspension bridge that was designed in 1839 to replace temporary floating bridges across the river and it was finished being built in 1849. Széchenyi István was one of the main supporters of building a permanent bridge, so it was named after him. This bridge was bombed in World War II, as were each of the seven bridges in Budapest in order to separate Buda and Pest.

Normally it is a bridge that cars drive over, but last weekend they were having a summer festival. People were selling food, drinks, and wares, and all automobile traffic was blocked off.







By the way the lions do have tongues. (If you have no idea what I'm talking about Google it!) Also, young children believe that the bridge gets pulled into the tunnel by Clark Ádám tér on the Buda side every night.

100 Broadway

This entryway has everything...Faces, lions, leaves, animals, and decoration for it's own sake. It's very busy. I like it.

100 Broadway
Financial district, New York City

Lion In Seattle

Overall I liked the decoration around this door, but I thought the lion was a bit chuncky, and ornate. I like the ornate part, but not the chunky...

Occidental Avenue, Seattle, Washington.

Look At The Teeth on This Lion!

This lion has sharp pointy teeth, but I think the bow under its chin takes some of the scariness away from it.

The scroll work, fruit, and leaves go together well, and are wonderful complements to the rest of the architecture here (even though you can't see the rest of the building. I had to cut off the majority of the ugly window unit.)

I believe this was on my way from Morningside Heights to East Harlem somewhere around Morningside Drive and 112th Street.

Lion Without Mouth Ring

This one is not held back by a ring in its mouth. Watch out!

I believe this is 93rd Street again.

Stylized Leaf-Head Lion

This is one of the greatest details I have seen yet. The lion is quite stylized and then the top of its head looks leaf-like. I love it! The roses are also very unique. Most architectural details I have seen with flowers so far are frontal. These are to the side, which is different.

118th Street between Morningside Drive and Amsterdam Avenue on the North side of the street.

Lions For Protection?

Since beginning the architectural observation process I have noticed a lot of lions with rings in their mouths. I would guess that it has to do with protection, but I'm not sure. Please let me know if I am wrong about this, or if any of you out there have more information about this architectural symbol.

Journal Square, Jersey City