Estimate

15.000 - 20.000

Session 1

21 October 2019

Hammer Price

Description

Bone low relief on pine board
Rectangular panel composed of 85 bone plaques of differing formats encased in convex frame of 23 plain and oblique incised bone plaques, with additional outer coating of 20 plain blades
Central composition with Calvary scene with the crucified Christ being tortured by two roman soldiers on the lower section, and eleven figures on the upper section that suggest the apostles
The lower plaque depicts Christ carrying the Cross on His way to Calvary, surrounded by crowd and another, unidentified, character
On the upper plaque Christ in Majesty in an oval shaped mandorla surrounded by four figures that can represent the evangelists or angels
Closing the central plaque's angles a depiction of the pelican - one of the most ancient symbols of Christianity representing the sacrifice and resurrection of Christ, symbol of unconditional and selfless love - in a circular medallion sided by three standing figures that can perhaps be the apostles.
On either side of the central scene a depiction of the Virgin Mary and Saint John The Evangelist and above These the Baptism of Christ and His imprisonment
On both the left and right hand side a set of 20 rectangular plaques depicting men, women and children
In smaller rectangles, above and below these, depictions of couples in conversation
The remaining surfaces are filled with scowls, gryphons, harpies, crows, chimera and profiled faces within circular medallions
Italian workshop, 15th/16th century
(restored)

43,5x63,5 cm

Category

Objects

Additional Information

This plaque is likely to have been mounted at a later date using plaques from a casket or marriage chest
It was temporarily exhibited at the Museu Nacional de Machado de Castro (Coimbra) from January 30th to April 25th 2019, when an analyses report as well as a conservation report, both dated November 30th 2018, were produced

Provenance: The plaque is accompanied by a letter dated December 23rd 1955, from The Viscount of Riba Tâmega, José Mendes de Vasconcelos Guimarães (1886-1970), in which the former gifts it "as a souvenir, a memento" to the latter, adding that it had been in his family's possession for 200 years.
Signed José and written on paper headed "TB" with viscount coronet and lion stamp