17th Century French Carved Bleached Ebony Plaque "The Conversion of Saint Paul"

Decorate a dining room or a living room with this signed C.F. Baker antique sculpted alabaster plaque. Created in Belgium, circa 1890 and set in a carved frame with gilt accents, the...

This elegant and heavily carved antique vitrine was crafted in France, circa 1880. The hanging cabinet features hand carved leaf and branch motifs throughout the front. The cabinet d...

This stately antique Black Forest sculpture composition was carved in France, circa 1860. The sculptural fruitwood work of art features a farm s...

Decorate a ranch or hunting lodge with this suite of elegant antique Black Forest wall plaques. Carved in France circa 1870, and built of walnut wood, each plaque is octagonal in sha...

A superbly carved, early 17th century decorative Renaissance walnut wall panel mounted within a carved oak frame, sourced from a private UK collectio...

An intricately carved 19th century antique wooden wall panel depicting a mythical or biblical scene. It details what appears to be three mythological beings, possibly witches or sorc...

This rare 17th century panel, carved in high relief, is museum quality and without doubt the work of an important Flemish master carver. It represents the biblical scene of Mary and Joseph in Bethlehem for the census. Multiple figures surround the center in a well balanced setting. Rich, deep color and great patina, which developed over about 400 years, make this piece of art exceptional. The panel is mounted on a later dusty rose velvet backing. Condition: Small part of backdrop on right is missing. Joseph’s left hand is missing. Measurements: Image size - 8 ½” W x 12 ¼” H x 2” D Back panel - 10 ¼” W x 14” H x ½” D Entire piece - 10 ¼” W x 14” H x 2 ½” D Weight: 2 lbs. 8 oz.  

Provenance : In the same private collection for several generations, Burgundy. The canonical Gospels describe briefly the episode of the Nativity. It comprises three parts : • The Preludes : the Journey to Bethlehem, the Census • The Nativity • The Announce to the Shepherds and the Adoration of the Magi Only the Gospel according to Matthew (2, 1-12) speaks about the Adoration of the Magi. Staying vague about their number it does say they brought the newborn gold, incense and myrrh. The apocryphals, the fathers of the Church and many other authors have filled in the gaps of the evangelic tale. The sobriety and symbolic of the story have been a huge inspiration to artists. Although one of the oldest depictions of the Adoration of the Magi dates from the 2nd century the theme became very popular in Christian art during the late 14th century. One of the reasons explaining this success is that it celebrates both the Virgin and Christ at the same time. This important walnut panel is carved in a strong relief and depicts the different steps of the story of Jesus’ birth. On the left, the donkey and ox that have accompanied Mary and Joseph from Bethlehem are depicted behind a trough. On the thatch roof appears the star that would guide the magi to the place of birth of Jesus. Mary is wearing a veil and is seating on a bed. She holds her baby at arm’s length to present him to the magi. Saint Joseph is by her side. The old man is holding a cane in his left hand while from the right hand he seems to uncover himself to greet the visitors. A woman assists to the scene. In front of the holy family the three magi stand behind one another to pay their homage to the newborn. The first magi has a pointed beard. He is already kneeling out of deference and has placed his crown to his feet. He gives the baby a hanap filled with gold coins. This is Melchior as the legend describes him with white hair and a long beard. Caspar, the second magi bears a cup of incense. He is looking at the third magi and with his right hand he points to the star that has guided them there. He has a short beard and wears crakow shoes, breeches and a wide sleeved doublet. Finally Balthazar, the elegant last magi proceeds proudly towards the holy family with his one hand on the saber’s hilt and the other holding a cup. He brings the divine child the myrrh. He probably just dismounted as the horse can be seen behind him. The scene is set in a very detailed and narrative decor. In the right part of the panel the shepherd receive the announce of Jesus’ birth. An angel comes down from heaven with a scroll bearing the good news in his hands. The herding dog sleeps peacefully while sheeps graze. At the top of the cliff we notice the gilded sheeps enclosure. The panel’s moulded frame is carved with a foliated decor. In it’s centre appears a coat-of-arms. It is the alliance of the three magi’s arms. Indeed as it was common for legendary figures the three of them received imaginaries coat-of-arms. Thus, on a field of azure stands a star for Melchior, a crescent for Caspar and a pennon for Balthazar. This high-relief panel is undeniably the work of a very skilled and imaginative artist. This key moment in the New Testament is transposed to a contemporary environment thanks to the figures’ clothing and the rural daily life scene. This way the universal dimension of the episode is highlighted allowing a better understanding for the contemporaries. The sculptor has represented the episodes of the Adoration of the Magi and the Announce to the Shepherd with great talent and numerous details giving life to a picturesque and narrative scene. The important traces of polychromy give those already very animated scenes a stronger pictorial power and a rich dynamism. Because of the picturesque and familiar realism so dear to the artists of the late Medieval era, of the didactic function of this type of panel as well as the quality of the sculpture this piece is an astounding example of Burgundian art of the 15th century. Literature Louis Réau, Iconographie de l’Art chrétien...