Dating to about 1490-1500, this lovely little carving depicts the crowned Virgin Mary. She has the sweet gentle features typical of Brussels carving which was to be an influence on that of Malines. The treatment of face is similar to the figures of Saint Barbara and Saint Catherine of Alexandria attributed to Brussels and illustrated in Netherlandish Sculpture catalogue entry 33 by Paul Williamson. The wood is walnut and it retains much of its original polychrome decoration. Probably cut down from a full length figure the bust is very well patinated which suggests that it has been handled a great deal and would probably have been intended for domestic house altar. It is 5 inches high.
Ref: 10731
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