Featured ID help : carved gilded wood sculpture of a friar

Discussion in 'Antique Discussion' started by Gianluca72, Nov 15, 2020.

  1. Gianluca72

    Gianluca72 Well-Known Member

    Hello friends,

    I would need your opinion to identify this carved gilded wood sculpture.
    I believe it is San Francesco, during his life as a friar, because it keeps on hand two doves, but i'm not sure.
    The face is a bit ruined unfortunately, but the physiognomy still stands out.
    From the gilding and condition of the wood it seems very old, maybe ancient?
    But as regards the style, the origin, and a hypothetical indicative dating, I rely directly on your expertise.
    Thanks for your time.

    Measurements:

    Height : 15 cm

    Width : 5.5 cm

    Depth : 4.5 cm

    P.S. @Debora the champagne cork is still the same ha ha

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    @Any Jewelry
     
    Last edited: Nov 15, 2020
  2. aaroncab

    aaroncab in veritate victoria

    Post zombie apocalypse friar?
     
  3. Gianluca72

    Gianluca72 Well-Known Member

    you are very comical ah ah ;
    can you also give me some help in antiquers style ?
     
    judy likes this.
  4. Bronwen

    Bronwen Well-Known Member

    St. Francis preaching to the birds is all I can put in.
     
  5. aaroncab

    aaroncab in veritate victoria

    How far up does the hollow in the base go? Doesn't seem like a wood carving should be hollow?
     
  6. Gianluca72

    Gianluca72 Well-Known Member

    The cavity extends to the shoulders, while the wood is solid starting from the neck
     
    judy and aaroncab like this.
  7. Miscstuff

    Miscstuff Sometimesgetsitright

    Done by the same restorer??
    [​IMG]
     
    popsycat, kyratango and blooey like this.
  8. 2manybooks

    2manybooks Well-Known Member

    It does not look like wood, particularly with that cylindrical hollow inside. I cannot tell what the material is, but it looks more like it is a cast copy of a wooden figure, and the casting material did not make it into the head of the mold. A bad casting job. Nevertheless, they painted it gold.
     
  9. Gianluca72

    Gianluca72 Well-Known Member

    you're so funny
     
    judy likes this.
  10. Gianluca72

    Gianluca72 Well-Known Member

    no, it's wood, this is 100% sure, in the hole there are splinters of wood.
    Whether it is wood you can also see it from the top of the head and in the areas where the gilding has been lost, as well as in the underlying part of the base.

    I believe it is old, seeing it live, I believe that the face and part of the head was wrongly? burned, and then they painted it gilded to diminish the burn.
     
    Last edited: Nov 15, 2020
    judy likes this.
  11. aaroncab

    aaroncab in veritate victoria

    For the record if I was unclear before, I also don't think this is wood. Agree its some variety of casted matrix that probably incorporates fibrous material.
     
    blooey and judy like this.
  12. Gianluca72

    Gianluca72 Well-Known Member

    please check my previous message that I edited
     
    judy likes this.
  13. aaroncab

    aaroncab in veritate victoria

    Nothing about the image of the top of the head looks like burnt or broken or decayed wood to me...im no expert of course.
     
    kyratango and blooey like this.
  14. Bronwen

    Bronwen Well-Known Member

    upload_2020-11-15_14-21-51.png

    He's very lumpy for a hand carving.

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  15. blooey

    blooey Well-Known Member

    I would not say slopping brass powder paint over an article could be described as gilding.
     
    Bakersgma, kyratango and aaroncab like this.
  16. charlie cheswick

    charlie cheswick Well-Known Member

    coming soon to a cinema near you

    the elephant man II, the monastery years:)
     
    kyratango, blooey and aaroncab like this.
  17. Gianluca72

    Gianluca72 Well-Known Member

    but how many witty phrases today, it is nice to find this atmosphere of comedy even in such a professional forum, very appreciable :)
     
  18. Gianluca72

    Gianluca72 Well-Known Member

    none of you thought, however, that the head may have been smashed with an ax by Ragnar Lothbrok (Vikings) while the friar was in Wessex praying with Athelstan
     
    komokwa and kyratango like this.
  19. Any Jewelry

    Any Jewelry Well-Known Member

    I agree, it is St Francis/Francesco of Asissi, preaching to the doves. He is the patron saint of my family.:)

    Gian, could it be ceramic? Painted terracotta maybe?
    I see an overlap in the lower part of his hood, that is something you could get if you used a single strip of clay to shape that lower part. Here in the centre of this detail:

    upload_2020-11-15_21-28-45.jpeg
     
    Bronwen, 2manybooks and kyratango like this.
  20. Gianluca72

    Gianluca72 Well-Known Member

    @Any Jewelry I am sending you some unprofessional photos, taken now with the phone and with the flash, forgive the quality. I am sending you details to understand if it is wood or terracotta.

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