Romanesque capital, France 12th century

Limestone Romanesque corner capital with two birds drinking from the same cup. The cavity between the two takes the shape of a heart. This motif was not uncommon in romanesque iconography: confronted birds of this kind appear on luxury textiles imported from Byzantium and the Near East. The motif was common in the Auvergne and western France, and allowed for many Christian interpretations. Limestone. Dimensions: 22x20x20cm
We quote from the V & A catalogue by Paul Williamson: “The motif of two birds, or alternatively griffins, drinking from a chalice is typically Auvergne or West French. This iconography stemmed from Byzantine and Sassanian sources, in which confronted birds and griffins, associated with Baptism and Resurrection, are shown drinking from the 'Fons Vitae' (…)” (P. Williamson, 'Catalogue of Romanesque Sculpture' (V&A publication, London, 1983), pp. 14-15). The V&A capital is dated 1100-1125.

Reference: Victoria & Albert Museum Accession number A.34-1936 “Engaged capital carved from oolitic limestone, decorated with two birds drinking from a chalice, western France (possibly Loire Valley), ca. 1100-25”

https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O108800/capital-architecture-capital-unknown/

Other examples:
Façade Notre-Dame-La-Grande (Poitiers, 12th century). Published by http://vdujardin.com/blog/article-quelques-details-de-la-fa-ade-de-notre-dame-la-grande-a-poitiers-62849952/
Eglise de Secondigny, Deux-Sèvres
Eglise de Jarnac-Champagne, Charente-Maritime
Chapiteau de la façade de l'abbatiale de Nieul-sur-l'Autise, Vendée