What ceremonial automaton did Leonardo da Vinci design in the shape of a lion?

Leonardo da Vinci designed a mechanical lion as a ceremonial automaton.

The lion was reportedly created for a royal or diplomatic spectacle and could move forward before opening its chest to reveal fleurs-de-lis. The floral display connected the machine with the French monarchy and made the automaton a theatrical political gift.

The best-known account places the presentation in 1515, when Leonardo was in France under the patronage of King Francis I. Details about the original mechanism are limited because no complete machine has survived.

The mechanical lion should not be confused with Leonardo’s mechanical knight. The knight is documented through technical drawings of a humanoid automaton, while the lion is chiefly known through historical accounts and later reconstructions.