Sculpture from Germany

And what is the date of this sculpture? Was sold in an antique shop in Hamburg under the guise of antiques. I wonder if she's old or not? Could it be 1920-40 or older?

 

The sculpture is varnished, and the wood has managed to darken in the scratched areas. At the place of attachment, the tree shrank and turned black.

I wonder if you can find sculptures similar in style or approximately date the sculpture?

Something your European antiques are rather difficult to define)). Is it a fake, or a old thing? I looked for European wooden products of the 15-17 centuries, varnished, sometimes they look very fresh.

And here in Russia, usually wooden antique items are blackened)).

 

Looks like you've got a piece of folk art, which makes it difficult to date. My guesstimate is ca 1930s, but let's wait what the others say.

 

Thanks! do you think that the 1930s? I just wonder if there are any analogues in appearance.

 

The style is pretty traditional, just more crudely carved than most because it is folk art imo.

 

I can't comment on age, but it appears not to have a flat bottom on which to stand up. So it should by hung on a wall? Perhaps those 2 small holes on the back are for hanging?

 

Yes to both. Hence the flat back.

 

I don't normally think of things that hang as "sculpture."

 

We also used to have folk masters who painted crude icons (in the 18th and 19th centuries), just as there were more professional ones. Was it the same in Europe? Perhaps this is the work of rural craftsmen?

 

Yes, either this "sculpture" was inserted on two pins, or there was some kind of fastening at the back that was pulled out.

 

Yes it was.

Very likely.

 

But here, even rural works are usually dated according to the style. For example, they were made after the Second World War, before the Second World War, or the beginning of the 20th century, or the 19th century and the 18th century.. And here you can find out the approximate date of manufacture by the style?

 

We even have them hanging back to back here, like this 16th century 'Marianum' by the Master of Elsloo, in Thorn Abbey, not far from me.

 

There are period styles in folk art in Western, Southern and Central Europe too, but in countries like Germany, Austria and Italy they prefer old styles. There the historic and the modern 'live' side by side.

 

A Marianum is a back to back double Madonna sculpture, the two are usually separated by an aureola (golden rays). The tradition is based on the Book of Revelation.

Here is a classic Marianum by another 16th century Dutch carver, Jan van Steffeswert: