LOT 114
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Lot 114
A VERY FINE AND IMPORTANT CARVED CEDARWOOD ALTAR CROSS, MOUNT ATHOS, 17TH CENTURY. Intricately carved in full round and in high relief, at top, the cross form carved at the apex with the crucified Christ and on the front, back and sides, 19 scenes from the life of Christ, consisting primarily of representations of the 16 major Church feast days. The cross set into an integral similarly carved graduated tower-form also carved with an additional 15 related scenes each identified by corresponding relief carved Greek inscriptions. Height 12.6 inches (32 cm).
Estimate:
$8,000 - 12,000
Comparison: For a very similar example see: Sotheby’s London, sale of December 8, 2006, Lot 67, illustrating a nearly identical carving dated to the 17th century.
The offered lot is a technical virtuosity from the celebrated monastic community of Athos. A center of miniature carving between the 16th and 18th centuries, and a craft that is still practiced by the monks of Athos today. Such crosses were the prized posessions of the Bishops, priest and monks who owned them.
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