Medieval Tabernacle 'Sudarium' Carved in Relief

EASTERN FRANCE, CIRCA 1480 A.D.

12 3/4 in. (810 grams, 32.5 cm high).

Wooden carved archway with high-relief image of St Veronica in floor-length robe standing on a domed base holding up the sudarium with the transferred image of the face of Christ with crown of thorns; raised edges and keyhole to the left edge with attachment holes for a lock mechanism, recess to the reverse. [No Reserve]

Provenance

Private collection, Bonn, Germany.

This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12057-217471.

Literature

See the ‘Way to the Calvary’, Netherlands circa 1510, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, accession no.15.12; in Fogg., S., Medieval Faces, London, 2020, fig.32 (Saint Veronica and the Mandylion).

Footnotes

The sudarium or 'veil of Veronica' (or Mandylion of Edessa) is alleged to bear the image of Christ's face. The story of the image's origin refers to the sixth Station of the Cross, where Saint Veronica met Jesus along the Via Dolorosa to Calvary and wiped the blood and sweat from his face with her veil. She later travelled to Rome to present the cloth to the Roman Emperor Tiberius. The veil has been said to have healing properties.

CONDITION

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