Ivory Sculpture Of Saint George Slaying The Dragon

Central Europe (Germany or Austria), ca. 1850–1880

Fully carved ivory, shaped hardwood base

Total height with base: 17.5 cm

Height of ivory sculpture only: 11.5 cm

Base dimensions: 13.5 × 6.5 cm

WITH CITES

Refined ivory sculpture depicting Saint George on horseback, slaying the dragon with a lance—one of the most iconic legends in Christian iconography. The saint, clad in armor and plumed helmet, charges forward on a rearing horse, striking the dragon beneath him. His billowing cloak adds a sense of motion and heroism to the scene.
The work is rich in detail: the horse’s anatomy is vigorous, the armor finely engraved, and the dragon’s scaly body meticulously carved. The shaped wooden base enhances the narrative composition with sober elegance.
This sculpture can be attributed to Austrian or German workshops active in the second half of the 19th century, reflecting Romantic interpretations of Gothic and Renaissance sources.