A rare and unusual set of four large Elizabethan carved oak panels with female figures. The design of the figures is almost certainly influenced by descriptions and illustrations of natives given by explorers who travelled the oceans in the 16th century. All have bare breasts and wear strange clothes and two have crossed legs. All of the figures appear to represent Ceres as two hold sickles with ears of corn, one a basket of fruit and the other holds aloft a torch in one hand to aid her in her search for her daughter Proserpine and in the other she holds a snake. Each panel is 23 inches high x 7 1/2 inches wide.

Ref: 8856

Price: £3750