Pilgrims retable in finely carved boxwood. Germany, Bohemia, 18th century

A pilgrims retable in very finely carved and polychromed boxwood.

Germany, Bohemia, early 18th century.

Measures 14 x 4.5 x 4cm.

The miniature altarpiece is decorated with the image of the Virgin amongst clouds, standing upon a globe, trampling the snake of the original sin and crowned by two angels. A cartouche framed by a laurel wreath at the base is engraved with the German inscription ’DURCH DEIN.H. IUNGER: AUSCHAFT UND UNPEFLEKHTE EMPFENKHNUS.O. REINIST IUNGFRAU. MARIA. REINIGE MEIN HERZ’ which translates into ‘By your holy virginity and your immaculate conception, O Virgin Mary the purest, purify my heart’. The reverse is set with a sliding door which removes to reveal an immaculately preserved interior depicting the throne of grace in which a seated god the father supports the figure of Christ upon his crucifix, above the Holy Spirit. Two praying angels sit at the foot of the cross, between them a skull (representing the bones of Adam) and upon a baroque pedestal. The inside of the lid is set with a further crucifixion group with the mourning figure of the Virgin stood at the base of the cross. Both carved groups within the interior are surmounted by the pilgrims scallop. The external sides and reverse are carved with floral swags. The base bears a handwritten inscription in brown ink which appears to be a name and possibly a date ’11.I.02.’.

This intimate retable is of great finesse of execution and in a remarkable state of conservation, without damage and retaining all of its original blue and red polychrome.