A European polychrome carved figure of Christ, Ostentatio…
click the photo to enlarge
A European polychrome carved figure of Christ, Ostentatio Vulnerum, 17th/18th century, the gilded and polychrome painted carved figure depicted Christ after resurrection showing the five holy wounds, 37 cm high

You must be a subscriber, and be logged in to view price and dealer details.

Subscribe Now to view actual auction price for this item

When you subscribe, you have the option of setting the currency in which to display prices to $Au, $US, $NZ or Stg.

This item has been sold, and the description, image and price are for reference purposes only.
  • Polychrome - Made or finished in many colours. For furniture, it is used to indicated a painted finish.
  • Gilding - Gilding is a method of ornamentation whereby a thin sheet of gold metal is applied to items made of wood, leather, ceramics, glass and silver for decorative purposes.

    For furniture including mirrors, the sheet of gold is usually applied over a coating of gesso. Gesso is a mixture of plaster of Paris and gypsum mixed with water and then applied to the carved wooden frames of mirrors and picture frames as a base for applying the gold leaf. After numerous coats of gesso have been applied, allowed to dry and then sanded a coat of "bole", a usually red coloured mixture of clay and glue is brushed on and allowed to dry, after which the gold leaf is applied. Over time parts of the gilding will rub off so the base colour can be seen. In water gilding, this was generally a blue colour, while in oil gilding, the under layer was often yellow. In Victorian times, gilders frequently used red as a pigment beneath the gold leaf.

    Metal was often gilded by a process known as fire gilding. Gold mixed with mercury was applied and heated, causing the mercury to evaporate, the long-term effect of which was to kill or disable the craftsman or woman from mercury poisoning. The pursuit of beauty has claimed many victims, not the least of which were the artists who made those pieces so highly sought after today.

This item has been included into following indexes:

Visually similar items

A large Tibetan gilded bronze figure of Tara, modelled with a serene downcast gaze, seated on a double lotus base, hands in the dharmachakra mudra, 49 cm high

Sold by in for
You can display prices in $Au, $US, $NZ or Stg.

A rare Burmese seated Buddha, on a raised platform supported by elephants, paper mache & gilt, 19th century, a sincere face with long ears below a domed top knop, wearing an off the shoulder robe that falls in folds to the waist, condition: damage to the b

Sold by in for
You can display prices in $Au, $US, $NZ or Stg.

A bronze Buddha, 17th century. The gilded figure, seated in 'Vajrasana' (cross-legged) on a lotus base, his hands in 'Bhumisparsha'mudra calling on the earth to take witness to his unshakeable self-realization, 26 cm high

Sold by in for
You can display prices in $Au, $US, $NZ or Stg.

Nepalese bronze figure of green Tara, the female bodhisattva of enlightened activity, seated on a lotus throne in the posture of Royal ease with left leg extended. Her left hand holding the stem of an upala flower which blossoms with a varja at her shoulde

Sold by in for
You can display prices in $Au, $US, $NZ or Stg.