Lot 65: A CARVED IVORY CORPUS CHRISTI

A CARVED IVORY CORPUS CHRISTI
ATTRIBUTED TO ANDREAS FAISTENBERGER (1647-1736), 1671
On a modern giltwood and malachite-veneered cross; inscribed to the back of the perizonium '..f 1671'; minor repairs and restorations
12 1/8 in. (30.7 cm.) high; 16 5/8 in. (42.2 cm.) high, the cross

COMPARATIVE LITERATURE:
C. Scherer, Elfenbeinplastik, Leipzig, 1903, p. 64-5, fig. 53.
E. V. Philippowich, Ein Handbuch für Sammler und Liebhaber Elfenbein, Braunschweig, 1961, p. 333.

THE PROPERTY OF A GENTLEMAN
Prospective purchasers are advised that several countries prohibit the importation of property containing materials from endangered species, including but not limited to coral, ivory and tortoiseshell. Accordingly, prospective purchasers should familiarize themselves with relevant customs regulations prior to bidding if they intend to import this lot into another country.
No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 17.5% will be added to the buyer's premium, which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis.
Please note Payments and Collections will be unavailable on Monday 12th July 2010 due to a major update to the Client Accounting IT system. For further details please call +44 (0) 20 7839 9060 or e-mail info@christies.com
The present ivory corpus figure belongs to a seemingly small series of figures that was first connected to the Munich-based ivory carver Andreas Faistenberger in the early 20th century. This was on the basis of a corpus figure signed and dated 'A. F. Anno 1681' which was exhibited in 1889 and which was attributed by Christian Scherer to Faistenberger in 1903 (loc. cit.). That figure, the present lot and at least one other corpus figure offered for sale at Neumeister (Munich, 1 December 1990, lot 118) all share virtually identical stylistic features; long, flowing hair, distinctively shaped eyes, a heavy and anguished brow, deeply carved mouth, forked beard with a hairless chin as well as a virtually identical treatment of the musculature of the torso.