CARVINGS / STATUES

Carved Wooden Figure of an Apostle (possibly St Philip)

Southern Germany or Alpine region, c. 1500–1530


Carved in the round from hardwood (likely limewood or walnut), this standing figure represents an apostle, shown as a bearded male saint wearing a long, flowing robe with deeply cut drapery folds. The figure holds a book against his chest—symbolic of apostolic teaching—and a long staff surmounted by a cross, an attribute traditionally associated with St Philip, though identification cannot be made with absolute certainty.

The carving displays stylistic features characteristic of late Gothic sculpture in the German-speaking regions at the turn of the 16th century, including a restrained yet expressive facial type, carefully modelled hands, and a balanced, slightly contrapposto stance. The treatment of the drapery, with its rhythmic folds and emphasis on verticality, reflects the lingering Gothic tradition transitioning toward early Renaissance naturalism.

The surface shows evidence of age and devotional use. Any original polychromy has largely been lost, as is typical for ecclesiastical wood sculpture of this period. The figure appears to retain its original attributes, including the staff-cross, an element frequently missing in surviving examples.

Such figures were commonly produced as part of a complete series of the Twelve Apostles, intended for installation on a choir screen (lettner), retable, or side altar within a church or monastic setting. The survival of this figure likely relates to the dispersal of ecclesiastical furnishings during the Reformation and later secularisation.

Overall, this is a well-preserved and evocative example of early 16th-century German devotional sculpture, notable for its scale, integrity, and quiet expressive power.


Dimensions
109.2 cms High (43 inches)
33.0 cms Wide (13 inches)
30.5 cms Deep (12 inches)


Stock No.: 1762
£7,500

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