Carved, Lacquered, And Polychrome Wooden Reliquary Bust Of A Bishop – Italy, 18th Century

Carved, lacquered, and polychromed wooden reliquary bust of a bishop – Italy, 18th century

A large (86 cm) 18th-century Italian reliquary bust depicting a holy bishop wearing a miter and pontifical vestments.

Description

Crafted from carved, lacquered, and polychromed wood, the figure is distinguished by its particularly decorative execution.
The bearded face, rendered with solemnity, is crowned by a tall miter embellished with colored elements imitating cabochons and precious stones. The cope features a remarkable relief decoration of foliage and plant motifs, highlighted with metallic tones and punctuated by green cabochons.

At the center of the chest is a large circular reliquary cavity, set within a sculpted frame with volutes.

The bust rests on an architectural base with scrollwork, adorned in the center with the head of a winged cherub.

The reverse side, intentionally more understated and left largely undecorated, features a large reliquary cavity carved into the wood; today, it is missing its original closing flap, leaving the interior of the compartment intended for relics visible.

The work follows the Italian tradition of Baroque reliquary busts, which was particularly prevalent in the 17th and 18th centuries for the decoration of churches, chapels, and sacristies.

Condition

The surface retains a beautiful antique patina, with signs of wear, losses, and alterations to the polychrome paint and lacquer, which are clearly visible in the photographs and consistent with the piece’s age. These signs of age contribute to the piece’s character and authenticity.

Please note that this bust forms a pair with a second bishop’s reliquary bust from the same period and of comparable craftsmanship, also available for sale.

Please feel free to contact me for any additional information or to request more photos of the items offered for sale.