Large French Empire Reliquary with Relics of 18 Saints and Paperolles, 1800s

A fine large pair of Italian silvered metal over wood reliquaries with putti, grape, shell, and scrollwork design. Each have memorial pendant displays with names (The left reads S. Innocentii M & S Clementiani M,” while the other is illegible. The pair is in very good condition, with great overall patina, some metal lifting...

Large and high quality carved antique sculpture of Joseph holding the child Jesus. If you are looking for a great value for money, work of religious art then this quality carved church relic could be gracing your home or monastery or house of prayer soon. This may not have been carved out of the most expensive or hard woodtype, but that is not what this antique is about. This striking and meaningful sculpture is all about the natural manner in which both the little boy Jesus and Saint Joseph have been hand-carved out of wood and how an accomplished sculptor clearly has spent a whole lot of time, focus and dedication to get the details of this large and meaningful sculpture very right. In this case, the hands and feet, the curly hair, the serene facial expressions, the perfectly natural body postures AND the perfect draping of the cloths are the most eye-catching details. Ones that most mortals would never be able to create like this and it will have taken this skilled artisan weeks rather than days to create. We believe that this unique antique is made of basswood or pine and it has been hand patinated (original). This was probably done to make the entire sculpure look more warm and calm (no wood grains taking away anything from the beautiful details we described). This meaningful and quality crafted work of religious art is ready for you to enjoy and, to us, it breathes a holy serenity and beauty that will never fail to impress. No matter where you decide to have it on display, this ecclesiastical antique will never fail to impress and if you already have a place in mind for 'them' then maybe you should be their next custodian. Mind you, our price for this hand carved antique church statue...