Large Antique 19th Century Mary Jesus Statue Carved Polychrome Wood Religious Sculpture

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A striking example of 19th-century religious folk art, this substantial hand-carved wooden statue depicts the Mary and Jesus in a … Read more A striking example of 19th-century religious folk art, this substantial hand-carved wooden statue depicts the Mary and Jesus in a beautifully aged polychrome finish. Standing an impressive 23 inches high, the sculpture has a commanding presence.

The figures are richly decorated in layers of hand-painted red, gold, green, and warm earth tones, with ornamental detailing across the flowing robes. Generations of age have created a remarkable surface, with extensive craquelure, areas of paint loss, rubbing, exposed wood, and mellowed gilding. Rather than detracting from the piece, this timeworn character gives the statue the unmistakable presence of an object that has survived well over a century.

Measuring approximately 23 inches high, 8.5 inches wide and 8.5 inches deep this is an impressive devotional object equally suited to a collection of ecclesiastical art, European religious sculpture, or historic folk art. Carved from wood and weighing over 10 pounds, the statue is exceptionally substantial. The integral stepped base provides a strong architectural foundation and retains traces of its original painted and gilded decoration. The expressive faces, elongated proportions, and folds of the garments give the sculpture a wonderfully distinctive hand-carved quality that separates it from later molded religious figures. Antique condition with aged surface and paint loss. The arm of Jesus has a slight looseness. Please review the photos for further condition assessment.

Its generous scale would make it particularly striking displayed on an altar, console, pedestal, or within an Old World interior. The statue retains a beautifully aged, unrestored appearance, with significant paint loss, surface wear, cracking, losses, and other imperfections consistent with its 19th-century age. These historic surfaces are an important part of its character and visual appeal. See less