LOT 0450

Medieval Swabia Gothic Bust of Christ

LATE 15TH-EARLY 16TH CENTURY A.D.

17 1/4 in. (1.79 kg, 44 cm high including stand).

A wooden Gothic bust of Christ modelled with his head drooping to one side, drawn and naturalistically rendered expression, wreath of thorns crowning his head, lock of hair falling down the front of one shoulder, crescentic blade wound beneath proper right breast where he was pierced by the Holy Spear; remains of polychrome pigmentation; mounted on a later display base. [No Reserve]

Private collection of Hans von der Gabelentz (ex-director of the Weimar-Goethe Museum).
Kept in his castle-residence (image attached).
Private North American collection.
This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by AIAD certificate no.11151-187528.

The sculpture is visible on an old photography of the 'Turmzimmer' (Tower’s room) of the Poschwitz castle, in Gabelentz, H. Von der, Über ein halbes Jahrtausend auf angestammter Scholle. Geschichte der Herren von der Gabelentz auf Poschwitz 1388-1938, (Over half a millennium on our land of origin. History of the Lords von der Gabelentz on Poschwitz 1388-1938) Bibliographisches Institut Leipzig 1938, p.106; see also the catalogue of Nigel, Alte Kunst & Antiquitaten, Fine Arts and Antiquities, 16. Dezember 2021, Berlin, 2021, no.2824.

Cf. Landesmuseum Württemberg, Lichte, C. und Meurer, H. (Bearb.) Die mittelalterlichen Skulpturen Bd. II. Stein- und Holzskulpturen 1400-1530. Ulm und südliches Schwaben, Ostfildern, Katalog no.84.