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a wooden statue of a woman holding a child in her lapan image of a statue of a woman holding a childan image of a statue of a woman holding a childan image of a statue of a woman holding a childan old statue of a woman holding a cat on a black backgroundan image of a piece of wood that has been cut in half
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695 - Important Virgin ‘Sedes’ Late Romanesque Transition to Gothi…
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Estimate €18,000 - €30,000
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Description
Important Virgin ‘Sedes’ Late Romanesque Transition to Gothic – 13th century Carved and polychromed wood. Dimensions: 70 x 25 x 17 cm. This sculpture in the round depicts the Virgin enthroned, holding the Child on her left knee, in accordance with the traditional iconography of the Sedes Sapientiae, or Throne of Wisdom. The composition retains the solemn frontality characteristic of medieval sculpture, with the Marian figure conceived as a symbolic support for the incarnate divinity. The Virgin appears crowned and seated on a simple architectural throne, whilst the Child adopts a regal posture, holding the orb of the world in one hand as an attribute of his universal sovereignty. The faces display serene and hieratic features, with a fixed gaze and profound spirituality, emphasising the transcendent dimension of the image. Significant traces of the original polychromy in shades of red, blue, green and gold remain, allowing us to appreciate the chromatic richness that characterised these sculptures intended for worship and devotion. The carving reveals the transition from late Romanesque to early Gothic forms, evident in the softer features of the faces and an incipient pursuit of naturalism, whilst still maintaining the compositional rigidity and symbolic monumentality characteristic of the earlier tradition. The wear caused by the passage of centuries, the loss of polychromy, and the traces of old wood-boring insects reinforce the historical nature of the work, providing valuable material evidence of its prolonged devotional use. It is a work of considerable interest within Hispanic medieval sculpture, representative of a key moment in the artistic and spiritual evolution of European religious sculpture, where the catechetical and symbolic function prevailed over naturalistic depiction. Its age, authenticity and iconographic significance make it an outstanding example of the sculptural output of the transition between the Romanesque and Gothic periods.
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About the sale GRAND SUMMER AUCTION OF HAUTE ÉPOQUE AND PRIVATE COLLECTIONS
Auction location
Auction time 06/29/2026 at 4:00 AM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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