Enquiry information

AN AMUSING LATE 16th CENTURY ENGLISH OAK CARVING. CIRCA 1580.

DEPICTING AN APE RIDING UPON THE BACK OF A DEER, DEEPLY CARVED IN ENGLISH OAK , IT WOULD HAVE MOST PROBABLY HAVE BEEN PART OF A CEILING OR DECORATIVE STRUCTURE IN A CHURCH.

THE APE IN MEDIEVAL BESTIARY TRADITION REPRESENTS THE DEVIL AND THE DEER TRADITIONALLY REPRESENTS A GOOD CHRISTIAN. THIS BEAUTIFUL CARVING PROBABLY DEPICTS THE DEVIL TRYING TO CLAIM THE SOUL OF THE GOOD CHRISTIAN.

PRIVATE COLLECTION.

STOCK NO 1993.