Lot 1188 Dα

Probably Lower Rhine Region circa 1530

A carved wooden relief of Christ and the Apostles (apostle beam), probably Lower Rhine-Region, circa 1530

Carved from one block, the reverse flattened. Remains of older polychromy. The relief depicts an arcade of baluster-form columns framing Christ the Saviour in the centre flanked by depictions of the twelve apostles as half-figures. The apostles can be identified via their appropriate attributes, and are also labelled within the framing arches. The lower margin of the relief is decorated with grape vine motifs issuing from the mouths of two dragons. This unusual piece has been the front side of a so-called "apostle beam", supporting a rood in the choir of a church. It is thought to originate either from the Lower Rhine-Region or the neighbouring Netherlandish province of Limbourg.
The centre of the upper border, the lower corners and the upper left corner replaced. Wear with minor losses. 30 x 352 x 6 cm.