Maskarons

A maskaron is a sculptural detail in the form of a human face or animal head. The word comes from late Latin māscus, masca, meaning spirit or ghost.

In ancient Greece, maskarons had a sacred function — to protect temples, springs, roads, and safeguard holy places from dark forces.

There is a specific canon for creating maskarons: the image must be strictly frontal, and its gaze must be directed straight at the person who stands before it.

Experts believe that more than 19,000 maskarons can be seen in St. Petersburg. Human faces are the most common form, while among animals, the lion predominates — its mask was placed on merchant houses as a symbol of power.

Our catalog features many interesting maskaron models created in the form of animals and mythical creatures: "Stavros":mascarons