Coat rack - Walnut - Large Italian coat rack

Italian solid-wood wall-mounted coat rack carved in bas-relief – “CRISTIANI CONTRO PAGANI”
Rare and imposing Italian solid-wood wall sculpture carved in bas-relief, depicting a spectacular medieval-inspired battle scene between Christians and Pagans.

Italy, first half of the 20th century, probably circa 1920–1940.

The long central composition, about 96 cm, presents a scene that is particularly rich and lively: horsemen, infantry, armed fighters, shields and fallen figures intertwine in a deep carved setting. Architectural elements appear in the background.

At the bottom of the scene is the inscribed carved inscription:
“CRISTIANI CONTRO PAGANI”
(Christians against Pagans)

Both ends are also adorned with carved relief figures and connected to the central composition by openwork elements decorated with geometric motifs.

The whole is completed by two large wrought-iron hooks with scrolls, giving this sculpture its function as a wall-mounted coat rack.

The reverse, deliberately left much more raw, allows observation of the construction in a substantial piece of solid wood, with its natural grain, knots and various traces of work.

The sculpture features a beautiful warm brown patina that enhances the depth of the relief.

This is a particularly decorative object, combining figurative sculpture, Italian popular art and functional furniture, whose near-one-meter format gives it a strong presence once mounted on the wall.

Specifications
Origin: Italy
Proposed period: first half of the 20th century
Estimated dating: circa 1920–1940
Type: coat rack / wall sculpture
Material: carved solid wood
Fittings: wrought iron
Technique: bas-relief sculpture / wood carving
Subject: medieval-inspired battle scene
Inscription: “CRISTIANI CONTRO PAGANI”
Length: approximately 96 cm
Height: approximately 21 cm
Estimated weight: approximately 5 kg

Condition
Good overall condition given the presumed age.
Presence of an old patina, marks, small cracks, irregularities in the wood and signs of use compatible with the age and artisanal manufacture of the object.
The reverse naturally presents a rougher aspect than the carved face.
Please carefully consult the photographs, which are an integral part of the description and allow appreciation of the condition, patina, and details of the sculpture.

Provenance: previously acquired on the Italian auction market.

An unusual and highly decorative Italian piece, remarkable for its size, its chivalric iconography, and the abundance of its carved ornament.