Lot 5355 ♣ - ibid154 Works of Art, Decorative Arts & Céramiques européennes - online only - mardi, 23. septembre 2025, 9h30
IVORY FIGURINE OF A WOMAN, PROBABLY VENUS
Germany, mid-17th century. Attributed to the workshop of Leonhard Kern (1588–1662).
Carved ivory. Depiction of a naked woman standing in a slightly contrapposto position, holding her hands in front of her chest. A scarf is interwoven with her hair and is draped over her back up to her left hip, covering her private parts. Mounted on a later round wooden base.
H 23 cm.
Provenance:
- Collection of Dr. E. Boehlen, Berne, acquired from the above art dealer.
The graceful figure of Venus on offer shows some similarities in posture, face and the fine design of the hands and feet with works by the famous carver Leonhard Kern, who worked in Hall during the Thirty Years' War. Comparable is the group of the Three Graces from ca. 1650, which is part of the Collection of the Württembergische Landesmuseum in Stuttgart (Inv. No. 1981-5). See Stadt Forchtenberg (ed.): Die Künstlerfamilie Kern 1529-1691. Sigmaringen 1998, p. 166. Also comparable is a depiction of Hebe-Temperantia, ca. 1635/40, Stiftung Preussischer Kulturbesitz (Cat. 14), Staatl. Museen Berlin, depicted in: Elisabeth Grünenwald: Leonhard Kern. Ein Bildhauer des Barock. Schwäbisch Hall, 1969, plate 31.
The unusual detail of the scarf interwoven with her hair can also be found on an allegorical female figure made of ivory, attributed to Lucas Faydherbe (Daniel Katz Ltd: European Sculpture. Exhibition catalog. London 2003, pp. 34/35, fig. 12). Although more detailed in the carving, an iconographic parallel can be drawn with the item on offer.
Due to the use of materials protected by species conservation laws, this object cannot be exported from Switzerland to other countries.
The unusual detail of the scarf interwoven with her hair can also be found on an allegorical female figure made of ivory, attributed to Lucas Faydherbe (Daniel Katz Ltd: European Sculpture. Exhibition catalog. London 2003, pp. 34/35, fig. 12). Although more detailed in the carving, an iconographic parallel can be drawn with the item on offer.
Due to the use of materials protected by species conservation laws, this object cannot be exported from Switzerland to other countries.
Cet objet contient des matériaux d'espèces en voie de disparition et est soumis à certaines restrictions commerciales. Les acheteurs potentiels doivent se familiariser avec les réglementations douanières pertinentes avant de faire une offre s'ils ont l'intention de l'importer dans un autre pays.
Conditionreport:
- Ivory with cracks.<br>- Ivory base broken (repaired)<br>- Minor fillings <br>- Few discolorations CHF 2 000 / 3 000 | (€ 2 060 / 3 090)
Vendu pour CHF 1 750 (frais inclus)