Two Carved Oak Altar Crooks, Early 16th Century, High Period

A beautiful set of two religious fragments carved from oak, originating from an old Norman residence known for preserving historic elements associated with the village’s former church, which was converted in the late 19th century.
These two corbels display a distinct architectural and devotional character.
Their substantial thickness and the presence of mortises and tenons indicate that they were part of a carved timber framework.
The first fragment depicts Saint John the Baptist, shown standing in a vertical composition. The figure’s frontal orientation, the rendering of the body, and the character’s hieratic presence are in keeping with the tradition of religious sculpture from the Middle Ages and the early Renaissance.

• Height: 58 cm
• Width: 20 cm
• Depth: 20 cm at the top and 5 cm at the bottom

The second corbel depicts The Coronation of the Virgin.
This is a major Marian theme in Christian iconography.
Although marked by the passage of time, the composition retains the power of an ancient relief and bears witness to a religious setting that was once more elaborate.

• Height: 37 cm
• Width: 26 cm
• Depth: 20 cm at the top and 10 cm at the bottom

This ancient Norman work dates to the first third of the 16th century.
Its original condition, featuring a deep patina, wear, cracks, missing sections, and erosion, attests to the age of these architectural elements.