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San Xavier del Bac Cast Iron Lions - Tucson, AZ
Posted by:
linkys
N 32° 06.420 W 111° 00.391
12S E 499384 N 3552296
Two lions sit atop pillars flanking the entrance path to a religious grotto on Grotto Hill.
Waymark Code: WM80MJ
Location: Arizona, United States
Date Posted: 01/04/2010
Views: 13
The grotto was created by Bishop Henri Granja around 1905 and the lions were installed in 1908. Around 1955, Nicholas Liristis added concrete flower boxes to the shrine and probably faced lion pillars with stone at that time.
There is a great deal of deterioration to the stone pillars, but the lions appear to be in good condition.
TITLE: San Xavier del Bac Cast Iron Lions, (sculpture).
![](/images/spacer.gif) ARTIST(S): J. W. Fiske Iron Works, founder.
![](/images/spacer.gif) DATE: ca. 1875-1900. Patented March 23, 1875. Installed 1908.
![](/images/spacer.gif) MEDIUM: Sculpture: cast iron (?); Base: concrete, stone and brick.
![](/images/spacer.gif) CONTROL NUMBER: IAS AZ000459
![](/images/spacer.gif) Direct Link to the Individual Listing in the Smithsonian Art Inventory: [Web Link]
![](/images/spacer.gif) PHYSICAL LOCATION: San Xavier del Bac Mission
1950 West San Xavier Road
Tucson, Arizona 85746
Grotto Hill is just east and adjacent to San Xavier del Bac Mission
![](/images/spacer.gif) DIFFERENCES NOTED BETWEEN THE INVENTORY LISTING AND YOUR OBSERVATIONS AND RESEARCH: None noted
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