Venice’s Lion of St Mark’s Square was at least part made in China, study suggests

The great bronze lion of St Mark’s square, Venice, is the subject of a study by University of Padua researchers to be published in the journal Antiquity. Photograph: Marco Bertorello/AFP/Getty Images

The great bronze statue of a winged lion perched atop one of two granite columns in Venice’s St Mark’s Square has watched over the city for centuries.

But Italian scientists have now found evidence to suggest the iconic statue was at least in part made in China, and possibly ended up in Venice via the Silk Road after being brought back by the father and uncle of the merchant and explorer Marco Polo.