Italian Baroque Artist, Carved Altar Candlestick Figure, 1700s, Walnut

Details

Description

This is a beautifully executed and highly elegant candlestick figure, dating from the mid-18th century. The sculpture depicts a young … Read more This is a beautifully executed and highly elegant candlestick figure, dating from the mid-18th century. The sculpture depicts a young acolyte or angel in flowing vestments, a quintessential example of the Rococo influence on late Baroque ecclesiastical art.

The quality of the carving is exceptional, evident in the fluid, dynamic rendering of the drapery and the finely detailed facial features, indicating the hand of a master from a professional workshop, likely in Southern Germany or Northern Italy.

Carved from a dense hardwood, probably walnut, the figure possesses a rich, dark patina developed over centuries of care and use in a church or private chapel. Such objects were not merely functional; they were integral to the theatrical and spiritual aesthetic of the Baroque era. The stable, honest age crack on the reverse is a testament to its genuine antiquity and does not detract from its structural integrity.

Measurements:

Height: 38 cm
Base: 14 cm x 8.5 cm
Weight: 820 g

Condition:
Very good antique condition. The primary issue to note is a prominent and stable desiccation crack running down the reverse of the sculpture, a natural feature of 18th-century wood carvings. The surface exhibits a beautiful, rich patina with some minor scuffs and marks consistent with its age and historical use. See less