Did Hi(s)tory Antiques discover a rare Romanesque wood sculpture? As an antique dealer, you secretly dream of it every day: making that one unique find at a local market, in a dusty barn, or during a small auction. An object that everyone has overlooked, but one that immediately sets off your ‘antique radar.’ Last week, it happened to me. For the price of a modest lunch, I managed to snap up an oak statue of a saint.
It depicts the apostle Andrew, immediately recognizable by the large X-shaped martyr's cross that he is firmly holding. But behind the scenes, a fascinating discussion has now broken out regarding the true age of this sculpture. And today I need the help and opinion of my followers!
The original plan: 17th-century folk art?
When I first added the 56-centimeter-high sculpture to the collection, I thought of it as a charming and pure piece of 17th-century folk art. Its somewhat squat proportions and powerful, naïve appearance led me to suspect that a local, anonymous craftsman from the Baroque period had carved it for a small-scale home altar.
But then I started the deeper, material inspection… and everything changed.
Is this a medieval Romanesque wood sculpture?
The longer I look at ‘Andreas’, the more the physical details begin to tell a completely different – and much older – story. This object is constructed in every fiber according to the strict, archaic laws of the Middle Ages. An authentic Romanesque wood sculpture is immediately recognizable by specific, rare characteristics.
Take a look at these striking features of our image:
- The iconic look: The strictly frontal, static pose, the straight nose line, and the almond-shaped eyes are the signature of the early period.
- Solid tree trunk The sculpture is carved from a solid, half-round oak log and is not hollowed out at the back. As a result, the wood shows deep, natural shrinkage cracks that bear witness to centuries of drying.
- Secret helplines: On top of the crown of the head, I discovered a very fine, scratched grid pattern. This is a medieval workshop method (a transfer grid) for correctly transferring the proportions from a sketch onto the wood!
- Old paint residues: Under the magnifying glass, minimal, legitimate pink/red and yellow pigment residues can still be seen on the bottom of the foot. The proof that this Romanesque wooden sculpture was once fully painted (polychromed).
The dilemma: What is the wise thing to do?
If this sculpture truly dates from the 12th or 13th century, we’re talking about an extremely rare, museum-quality masterpiece. However, there is one major ‘but’ that every expert must take into account: the 19th century. Around 1900, the Neo-Romanesque style was immensely popular, and skilled artisans sometimes produced frighteningly good replicas, often on historic oak. Based on a photograph alone, that difference simply cannot be determined with 100% certainty.
I am now seriously considering taking it a step further and having official dendrochronological research (tree-ring analysis) carried out to scientifically determine the exact felling date of the oak wood.
What do you all think?
Now I am very curious about the vision of the followers and enthusiasts of Hi(s)tory Antiques:
- What do you think when you see these photos? Are we really going back to the early Middle Ages here, or are we looking at an incredibly beautiful 19th-century Neo-Romanesque interpretation?
- Should I take the plunge and have the Romanesque wood sculpture scientifically tested? Would you make that investment for ultimate certainty and an official certificate?
Leave your reaction, expertise, or intuition in the comments below! I really enjoy reading along with all of you.
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Polychrome wooden statue of Saint Roch
