18th Century Italian Giltwood Santos Crown - Large Baroque Madonna Crown

A magnificent and large 18th Century Italian giltwood Santos crown, originally made to crown a statue of the Madonna or Saint in a church altar. Carved in wood with scrolling openwork arms terminating in gilt spheres, converging to a central orb finial. The lower band features stylized petals / palmettes. Retains its original water-gilding over gesso and red bole with heavy, beautiful age patina - flaking, burnishing, and loss revealing the white gesso beneath, which is exactly what collectors want. This is a powerful devotional object and a stunning decorative sculpture. Use as a table centerpiece, on a pedestal, atop a stack of books, or as a dramatic topper for a sculpture bust. A rare, large-scale, and deeply atmospheric piece of Italian religious history. Very much in the taste of Axel Vervoordt.