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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Any Jewelry, post: 366751, member: 2844&quot;]He is gorgeous! His face is really beautiful.</p><p>As Steve said, we need to see the base as well.</p><p>You did notice this little so and so is an imposter? You can see the ropes that hold his wings in place.<img src="styles/default/xenforo/smilies/smile.png" class="mceSmilie" alt=":)" unselectable="on" /></p><p>I think he was born not too far away from me, in the Dutch, German, Belgian, Luxemburg border region. Without seeing the base, my guess is 16th century.</p><p>Originally he would have been painted, I think, and part of a group of statues. His left hand could have pointed to a statue of the Virgin Mary. The hands and wings could be early replacements.</p><p><br /></p><p>The carver knew the slightly earlier work of Jan van Steffeswert and the &#039;Master of Elsloo&#039;, the names of two groups of 15th-16th century artists who worked in and around the present day southern Dutch provinces of Noord Brabant and Limburg. They used to be attributed to just two people, hence the names.</p><p>You can see some of their work here:</p><p><a href="https://www.bonnefanten.nl/nl/collectie/verzamelaccenten/middeleeuwse_sculptuur_13de_16de_eeuw" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.bonnefanten.nl/nl/collectie/verzamelaccenten/middeleeuwse_sculptuur_13de_16de_eeuw" rel="nofollow">https://www.bonnefanten.nl/nl/collectie/verzamelaccenten/middeleeuwse_sculptuur_13de_16de_eeuw</a></p><p>There is an English language button, but that takes you to a general page. So stay on this one, it has a slide show of different statues.</p><p><br /></p><p>This &#039;wannabe angel&#039; could have been sold by an impoverished convent in the 60s, but there could be a nastier scenario.</p><p>During the 60s and 70s many of our antique statues were stolen and shipped directly to the US. I am not saying this one was, but it is likely.</p><p>The places they were stolen from were mainly small village churches and chapels which had survived the ravages of centuries of religious persecution and war. Some of the statues were believed to work miracles. The churches were a welcoming place of peace and hope for the local population, the doors were always open during daytime. The people were heartbroken when their revered statues were stolen.</p><p>Needless to say, the churches are now locked, unless there is someone in attendance. Faithful have to ask for the key and someone to accompany them if they want to pray in their own church. A few communities managed to raise money to have replicas carved, only to find those were stolen as well, from churches and chapels that were locked at the time.</p><p>As I said, I don&#039;t know if this angel was stolen, but hundreds, possibly more, were. If anyone comes across religious art like this, please ask for provenance. That isn&#039;t always proof, but it is a start.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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