"Folk Or Colonial Art Set Of 2 Wden Carved Panels, Historical Subject, Dated 1659"
FOLK ART Set of 2 folk art wooden carved panels (oak), coming from the same furniture.
The background of the scenes decorated with dotted lines arranged in a diamond pattern creates a unity between both.
The very archaic and primitive style, along with the curious iconographic mix of various sources, suggests a colonial work.
*The upper panel features 8 figures, including 2 lying down: It could be a representation of the sleeping apostles at the Mount of Olives.
One of them has a distinctive attribute: a square (or a scale ?) for St. Thomas.
Another holds a Bible (St. Paul ?)
and a third a thick knife (St. Bartholomew carrying the instrument of his execution ?)
*The vertical panel is composed of 3 registers:
-The central one seemingly representing the presentation of the child Jesus to the Magi. The character in front of the Virgin appears to be carrying a vessel for offerings on his head, upon which is placed... a bird!
- A central figure in the upper register is crowned with a curious headdress shaped like a double crescent moon. Could it be the Magi King coming from the East?!
- On the lower register appear, even more surprisingly, various animals: one fantastic creature seemingly having 2 heads, one of which is threatening, and... a rabbit!
Dimensions:
61 cm long * 22 cm high and 5 cm (!!!) thick for the horizontal panel,
64 cm high * 23 cm wide and 3 cm thick for the vertical panel.
Very good condition: a few rare traces of wood-boring insects, but the wood remains very heavy and dense.
I stay available for any other suggestions about iconographic interpretation !
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