Estimate

5.000 - 8.000

Session 3

10 December 2020

Hammer Price

Description

Carved ivory plaque depicting the Descent from the Cross scene with The Virgin of Sorrows, pierced by sword being comforted by Saint John, Mary Magdalene and putti at the feet of Christ and crying Angels in heaven
Probably Northern Europe, late 17th century
Bronze stand frame and applied chiselled silver elements representing symbols of The Passion of Christ crowned at the top by two reclining angels flanking a label inscribed "INRI"
Italy, 17th/18th century
(losses and faults)

17x10,5 cm (marfim) 40x28 cm (total)

Category

Objects

Additional Information

Like amber and coral, elephant ivory is one of the few organic raw materials that was privileged in the competition with more precious materials, of entirely mineral origin, such as precious stones and noble metals. Its origin in distant places, durability and solidity, as well as its exoticism, identified in the whiteness and smooth texture, contribute to be appreciated throughout the human history. Most of these works were made for customers and collectors, who delighted in the rarity of the material and the quality of the sculpture.
The integrity of the piece that we now present, is justified by the link that exists between the ivory relief (where the Descent from the Cross is represented) and the silver frame (decorated with the instruments of the Passion of Christ), the latter of which may have been executed for the first.
This excellent example is very similar to another that we found in the collection of the Victoria & Albert Museum in London (A.30-1949). This same attributed to the German artist Balthasar Permoser (1651-1732).
Without knowing for sure the iconographic font used by the artist, it is possible to identify some works that, hypothetically, will have served as a reference for a composition on this theme.
As an example, we identified the altarpiece of the main altar in the chapel of the Monte di Pietà palace in Rome, made by the sculptor Domenico Guidi (1625-1701).