Baroque Sacristy Cabinet With An Ivory Corpus Christi, Southern Germany, 18th Century

Baroque sacristy cabinet with a tabernacle resting freely on the chest of drawers and a matching ivory corpus

Southern Germany, mid-18th century

A walnut sacristy cabinet, veneered and adorned with decorative inlaid bands; original fittings and locks. The upper section, resting freely on the chest of drawers, forms a tabernacle likely intended for the storage of liturgical objects and other sacred accessories. Behind each of the tabernacle’s two doors are three drawers for the orderly storage of small liturgical objects, relics, or other precious items of religious furnishings. Above the drawers, the tabernacle also offers sufficient space to display and store larger liturgical objects, such as chalices, monstrances, or ciboria.

The front is adorned with a polychrome coat of arms, framed by rocaille motifs carved in relief and gilded. Above it is a memento mori entirely carved from wood, depicting a skull with crossed bones. The combination of the coat of arms, the gilded rocaille decoration, and the symbolism of vanity lends this piece a character that is both representative and religious, imbued with a moral warning.

The piece comes with a removable crucifix featuring an ivory corpus, housed in a specially designed cartouche. This separate compartment highlights the crucifix’s special status and precious nature. CITES documentation
Good condition.