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

Total weight: 181 g

Antique elephant ivory carving (Elephas maximus Linnaeus, 1758 or Loxodonta africana Blumenbach, 1797) finely sculpted in the round depicting a standing warrior, dressed in a short military tunic and helmet, holding a sword in his right hand and an oval shield in his left. The shield is decorated with a grotesque face with marked features, a flowing beard and open mouth, reminiscent of the apotropaic tradition.

The image of the warrior conveys the idea of strength, courage and protection, while the shield with the mask represents a means of defence that is not only physical but also symbolic, as it is intended to repel evil and frighten enemies. This motif derives from classical antiquity, in particular from the gorgoneion, the face of Medusa used on shields as a talisman, but in the Renaissance and Baroque periods it was reworked in an ornamental key with grotesque or theatrical faces.

The sculpture rests on a cylindrical wooden base painted to imitate marble, 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 16th and 18th centuries.

Height x diameter: 24 x 5 cm

Height x width x depth figure: 15.5 x 4.5 x 2.5 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. 2025-211)

Provenance:
Count Luigi Rigi Luperti collection.