159

Ivory sculpture depicting a female figure, Central-Southern Europe, 17th - 18th century

Total weight: 434 g

Antique elephant ivory carving (Elephas maximus Linnaeus, 1758 or Loxodonta africana Blumenbach, 1797) finely sculpted in the round depicting a standing female figure.

The woman is depicted in a slightly contorted position, with her face tilted and her gaze turned downwards, in an attitude of composed elegance. She wears a draped dress that leaves part of her bust uncovered and creates a fluid movement of folds and crosses, sculpted to enhance the softness of the material and the figure. In her left hand she holds a snake, a significant iconographic element that directs the interpretation of the subject towards an allegorical figure. In Western symbolic culture, the snake can represent knowledge, ancient wisdom, or prudence understood as a rational virtue.

The figure could represent an allegory of Wisdom or Prudence, two female personifications recurring in Baroque and Rococo art.

The snake symbolises knowledge and discernment in both cases, according to a classical symbolism widely used in allegorical art.

The sculpture rests on a cylindrical base in marbled wood, decorated with bands and frames in gilded metal, in keeping with the precious and spectacular taste of the period.

The naturalistic rendering of the drapery, the relaxed posture and the serene expression of the face suggest an allegorical or mythological subject, typical of European artistic production between the 17th and 18th centuries.

Height x diameter: 27 x 9 cm

Height x width x depth figure: 16 x 6 x 3 cm

This lot, accompanied by a CITES certificate and expertise issued by Ce.S.Ar Centro studi archeometici, is only available for sale with shipments within the European Union. (expertise Ce.S.Ar. 2025-210)

Provenance:
Count Luigi Rigi Luperti collection.