Ivory Color ANTIQUE Louis XVI ALTAR CRUCIFIX FRANCE Jesus Carved Relic Reliquary
Item History & Price
| Reference Number: Avaluer:352122 | Modified Item: No |
| Material: Mixed | Country/Region of Manufacture: France |
ANTIQUE c.1750-1770 Louis XVI ALTAR CRUCIFIX IVORY (color) Hand Carved Corpus Relic FRANCE Jesus ChristHuge Louis XVI style altar crucifix made of inlaid tropical hardwoods (from the French colonies) standing 24” tall, and 9 3/4" wide. The hand carved ivory (color) corpus is about 9”. The crucifix stands on a Louis XVI style inlaid pedestal. This piece is a work of art worthy of being in any museum's collection.The corpus is exquisitely carved showing incredible details such ...as Christ's muscles, ribs, veins and fingernails. Of special note is the expression on Christ’s face. One can see the agony on Christ’s face as he looks to heaven and says “Father, Father, why have you forsaken me?”The condition of this crucifix is extraordinary considering it is over 250 years old. The heavy tropical wood cross is solid and stands straight upon its ornate inlaid pedestle. The corpus is in excellent condition, with some expected shrinking along the growth/stratification lines. This is expected with this type of material as it ages. After the thousands of masses said before this crucifix, the incense and candles have colored the underside of the corpus a honey color. I can imagine the good sisters gently wiping down the crucifix over the years, making the front portion a creamy white, leaving the honey color on the back and in the more deeply carved areas, such as in Christ's wavy hair, his eyes and mouth, giving the corpus a patina that only the passage of many centuries can create. This crucifix is from the estate of a beloved French Archbishop. He acquired it from a closed French convent in Besançon, Bourgogne (Burgandy), in the late 1970's, when it was already centuries old. The archbishop was well known for his private relic, reliquary and antique French religious antique collection. His name, photo and biography will be given to the crucifix's new custodian. Please see my other auctions for more Catholic antiques, relics and icons. I gladly combine shipping!*pleazse note...shipping charges, whether in the United States, or worldwide, will be only for the actual shipping costs. I do not charge for materials or handling. All shipping costs listed are approximations. Once the item is purchased, please go ahead and complete the transaction through PayPal. I will reimburse, or send an invoice to you for the difference. ** international shipping requires a service such as Fedex or UPS with door to door tracking. The buyer is responsible for any customs charges or difficulties. International returns are not accepted.
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