Attributed to Franz Ignaz Günther (1725-1775) German, Munich, circa 1750

Art market, London, November 1986

Overall the condition is good with dirt and wear to the surface consistent with age. There are a few losses to the feathers on the proper right side. There are a few smaller losses. There is wear to the original polychromy throughout, in particular to the face and to the top of the headdress. The feathers on the proper right side are carved separately and there is a visible joint. There are two holes to the wings at the front. These are visible to the reverse together with four additional holes. There is very minor splitting to the wood consistent with the material. There are a few white residues to some of the crevices.
"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."

This beautiful cherub compares closely with another from Günther's Pietà in Weyarn, Bavaria (Feulner, op. cit., pl. 5) as well as that published by Wilm (Wilm, op. cit., p. 276). The present sculpture is particularly finely carved, notably the set of front teeth, and is enhanced by the surviving original polychromy.

RELATED LITERATURE
A. Feulner, Ignaz Günther. Kurfürstlich Bayrischer Hofbildhauer (1725-1775), Vienna, 1920, pl. 5; H. Wilm, 'Engel von Ignaz Günther', Pantheon, September, 1933, pp. 276-278; C. Hertel, Pygmalion in Bavaria. The Sculptor Ignaz Günther and Eighteenth-Century Aesthetic Art Theory, University Park, 2011, pls. 12, 25