Baroque style Cross - wood, silvered - 1850-1900 - crucifix

Crucifix

An exceptionally beautiful and characterful antique wooden standing crucifix, crafted in a classical religious style that presumably dates from the 19th century. The crucifix stands 38 cm tall and 17 cm wide, giving it a very monumental and restrained appearance. What makes this particular piece so special and valuable is that all the fine ornaments and mounting pieces are entirely made of silvered brass, rather than the more commonly used bronze or tin. The deep dark brown wood has a gorgeous, smooth finish and forms a splendid, warm contrast with the gleaming silverwork. Centrally on the cross sits a finely wrought silver Corpus Christi, rendered with great expressiveness and attention to detail. Above the figure of Christ is a silver scroll inscribed with 'INRI'. The three upper ends of the horizontal arms are elegantly finished with decorative silvered caps in a graceful fan motif. Particularly fascinating is the presence of a silver skull with crossed bones directly beneath Jesus’ feet, a powerful and historic symbol referring to Golgotha, the Place of a Skull, and the ultimate triumph over death. The whole rests on a sturdy, stepped square wooden pedestal that broadens toward the bottom. The sloped front of this pedestal is enriched with a beautiful silver relief depicting two winged angels, or putti, side by side, which contributes to the devotional and artistic value of the object. This rare crucifix is in excellent antique condition with a very authentic patina and forms a valuable addition for the serious collector of religious art and antiques. The lot weighs 325 grams, is packed with the utmost care, and shipped worldwide with Track & Trace.