Lot 109
  • 109

Circle of Georg Petel (circa 1601 - 1634) South German or Netherlandish, 17th century

Estimate
20,000 - 30,000 GBP
bidding is closed

Description

  • Young St. George Slaying the Dragon
  • inscribed in black ink: 624
  • fruitwood, on an ebony and wood base, with four verre eglomisé ovals, mounted on Swedish porphyry 
  • Circle of Georg Petel (circa 1601 - 1634) South German or Netherlandish, 17th century
the verre eglomisé ovals incorporating the Virgin and Child,  St. Peter, tablets with the Ten Commandments and St. Paul

Condition

Overall the condition of the wood is good with some minor wear and dirt to the surface consistent with age. There is some stable naturally occurring splitting to the surface, including a filled split running up from the reverse of the orb and to the proper right shoulder. There are restorations to the fingers. The spear is replaced. There are some losses and wear to the verre eglomisee. There are a few minor chips to the corners of the base.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Catalogue Note

Devotional sculptures in boxwood were much sought after in 17th-century Germany. This beautiful little St George recalls the work of one of the leading ivory and wood carvers of the first half of the century, Georg Petel. Compare, for example, with Petel's Putto in the Württembergisches Landesmuseum, Stuttgart (Feuchtmayr, op. cit., no. 15). The dynamic pose and the stylised dragon recall the Putto and Dragon from the Mariensäule in Munich by Ferdinand Murmann, who operated within Petel's circle (Feuchtmayr, op. cit., no. 93). The calm idealisation of the statuette also recalls Netherlandish sculpture of the time, which had a direct influence on Petel.

RELATED LITERATURE

K. Feuchtmayr and A. Schädler, Georg Petel 1601/2-1634, Berlin, 1973, pp. 102-103 and 156-159, nos. 15 and 93