Engaged Capital with a Fantastic Creature and Three Birds

Cleveland Museum of Art

The sculpture depicts a capital with a relief carving. The capital is square with a curved decorative pattern on the top edge. The scene carved into the capital shows a large bird with outstretched wings on top. The bird has a round body and long neck curved down to the right. The bird's head faces left, and its beak is near the head of a fantastical creature below. The creature has a horse-like body and a lion-like tail. The creature's head faces right; it has a snout and ears. The creature also has a short horn protruding from its forehead on the right side. On the right side of the capital, there are two birds with their heads facing down. The background of the image is dark gray, and the capital appears to be made of stone. The artist of the piece is unknown.