Gargoyles

A pair of carved sandstone gargoyles.

In architecture, and specifically Gothic architecture, a gargoyle is a carved or formed grotesque with a spout designed to convey water from a roof and away from the side of a building, thereby preventing it from running down masonry walls and eroding the mortar between. Architects often used multiple gargoyles on a building to divide the flow of rainwater off the roof to minimize potential damage from rainstorms.

The examples for sale have no such spout and therefore were not used as waterspouts. However the terrifying creatures also served a decorative and protective function. 

Both faces have damage, hence why they were removed from their original building and replaced by new sandstone copies.

Gothic revival or earlier.

140 x 28 x 19 cm, 120 x 23 x 22 cm