My Collection

Everyone needs a hobby, and mine is collecting winged lions. Winged lions are a symbol of strength tempered with intelligence-- we need to be strong, but we also need to use our wits when we can. Although I've never been able to find information on the origins of the winged lion symbol (some say it's Egyptian, others say it is Middle Eastern), I have found that it is a symbol for the Christian St. Mark. As a result, it was also adopted as the symbol for the republic of Venice. Legend has it that some enterprising Venetian businessmen stole the remains of St. Mark and brought them to Venice. Supposedly, that's why the winged lion become the symbol of Venice.

And now, they are the Windlistener's mascot, too.

Most of my beauties come from ebay.



This is a Ral Partha figurine I found on ebay





This is a Pena sculpture from ebay





This is a Pena candle-lamp from ebay





And here's my "bad cat" checking out the "Bad Cat" candle-lamp





This is a Pairpoint Suncatcher from ebay





A gorgeous clear winged panther from ebay





Another Pena candle-lamp from ebay





A protection shield from ebay





Also from ebay





This adorable fellow was custom made for me by a dear friend! Isn't he cute!





Also from ebay, this guy is an incense burner





Also from ebay, and also an incense burner





And this is the piece that started it all. I was shopping for Christmas presents last winter, and this guy jumped out and mesmerized me. It doesn't show in the pictures, but he has the most amazing, realistic eyes! I decided I had to have him! But there was a slight problem-- no one in the store knew where he came from, and there was no box for him! They finally valued him at $50 and wrapped him in tissue, and I took him home. Later, I found out he's circa 1987, and no longer made by Pena-- the last sale I saw on ebay, he went for over $250!!! I guess it must be fate that he happened to end up as mine!






A pin from ebay





This is from a set of spoons I found at a flea market. The little blip of copper in the picture is a Venetian winged lion





This is a winged lion ring that my husband had made for me.





A necklace from ebay





This went up on ebay at the same time I was shopping for (and found) a cloak! So I thought it would make a perfect clasp for my new cloak





Also from ebay





I have three of these guys, and, believe it or not, they came from Wal-Mart!





Also from ebay





Also from ebay-- this guy is SOLID concrete! I had to find a special place for him since my "flion shelf" wouldn't hold him





This one came all the way from Scotland (I LOVE ebay)! He's huge, really too big to use as a necklace (he's more like "hood ornament" size)





This cute little guy came out of one of those "claw machines"





I found this one at a flea market during our vacation in Kentucky last year.





This is a sort of art deco winged panther necklace from ebay





This is a bookend from ebay





This section is in sore need of updating! The collection has grown-- check back again soon for the latest updates!

Use the navigation menu at the left to visit the other pages in this section.

"Heart-shaped Box"-- Nirvana:

All pages, format, images and content are ©2004 Windlistener NiMorrigan (or copyright original owner, where applicable).
Do not copy without permission.