The Médicis lion is a classic symbol of power, crowning the facade of À l'enseigne du lion d'or. It sits atop the entrance of a shop at the corner of rue Jean-Poulmarch and rue des Vinaigriers in the 10th arrondissement of Paris. The shop faces the Récollets locks of the Canal Saint-Martin.
Dating back to the beginning of the 19th century, the shop served as a wine merchant's storefront. The facade is protected by a wrought iron grille with bars crowned by gilded pinecones - a type of grille common since the 18th century. The entrance is located on the chamfered corner and consists of a two-pane glass door.
The door frame is flanked by pilasters with capitals featuring figurative decorations of the heads of the god Bacchus and his attributes, including clusters of grapes and vine leaves. These symbols have been associated with wine since antiquity. The facade has been listed as a historical monument since May 23, 1984.
Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons
Written by Nicolo Ciampini
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