A wonderfully primitive caryatid type carving of a bearded Elizabethan musician playing a strange woodwind instrument. He holds the instrument in both hands and covers some of the holes with his fingers to control the sound - whilst his left hand appears to have four fingers and a thumb, the right hand seems to have no thumb. One can just see that he is wearing some form of breeches and his feet are wearing charming shoes. He stands on a small plinth with a scroll underneath. On the back is written "ELIZABETH I MUSICIAN PLAYING SCRUMPENT. SEE PAGE 216 INSIDE CHURCHES" There is also a small paper collector's label with the number 53. I cannot find any instrument called a Scrumpent and I think that it must mean a Serpent or possibly an amalgam of a Serpent and a Crumhorn, both of which are wind instruments illustrated on the page referred to in the book "INSIDE CHURCHES A Guide to Church Furnishings." It has a slight West Country feel to it and it may have been in a church where music was played or in the minstrels' gallery of a private house. Hard to date but probably circa 1570. It has until recently been in the private collection of a retired dealer. It is 19 inches high.

Ref: 10967

Price: POA