17th C. Spanish Wood Bust of Bearded Man

Western Europe, Spain, or part of the Spanish Empire, ca. 17th to 18th century CE. A beautifully preserved hand carved wooden bust of a bearded man. The wood is wonderfully aged, polished to a warm glow on all polished surfaces. He is bald, with a wonderfully shaped beard and lifelike face with deepset eyes. His upper body is smooth, with shoulders and sockets on the sides for attaching separate arms or suspending the figure. He likely once had clothing - perhaps including a hat - and would have been carved to represent a saint or famous public figure - someone even suggested that he may be Ponce de Leon, the leader of the first Spanish expedition to Florida and the first governor of Puerto Rico. Size: 6.4" W x 15.45" H (16.3 cm x 39.2 cm)

Provenance: private California, USA collection

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#148060
Condition Report: Well preserved for its age, with some weathering and fissures on the wood. Tip of nose has been repaired. There are small areas of inactive insect damage on the back.