Holt Antiques at Walsingham Mill
Large 17th Century Continental Antique Alabaster Portrait Bust of a Gentleman
Large 17th Century Continental Antique Alabaster Portrait Bust of a Gentleman
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A rare and evocative late 17th-century Continental carved alabaster portrait bust of a gentleman, circa 1660–1700, probably Flemish or Spanish.
The sitter is portrayed with a gently rounded, youthful face beneath heavy lappets of hair falling in thick waves to curled terminals at either shoulder, a fashion firmly of the third quarter of the 17th century. He wears a doublet with a standing collar and close-set buttons, the breast finely worked with trailing embroidered or frogged decoration, and a broad sash passing diagonally from the right shoulder — the dress of a man of rank, possibly with military or courtly associations.
The alabaster displays the honey-amber veining and translucent banding characteristic of the material, with genuine age evidenced throughout: craquelure to the crown, granular weathering to the face, and scattered surface losses revealing the whiter stone beneath. Far from detracting, this untouched surface is the piece's guarantee — degradation of this character cannot be convincingly faked and distinguishes the genuine 17th-century article from later pastiche. Carved from a single block; head and torso are of one piece.
Portrait busts of this period in alabaster rarely survive outside institutional collections, and rarer still in private hands. A commanding presence for a period interior, library, or hall — a true collector's sculpture with over three centuries of history in its surface.
Provenance: Continental. 17th-Century.
Material: Alabaster
Condition: Please refer to the description above and the images.
Dimensions: 20 in high x 17 in wide (51 cm x 43 cm)
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1. LAPADA (London and Provincial Antique Dealers Association) – LAPADA is the UK’s largest trade association for professional art & antique dealers (representing approximately 500 UK dealer members). All items are backed by our LAPADA guarantee;
2. CINOA –Confédération Internationale des Négociants en Oeuvres d'Art, (or International Confederation of Art and Antique Dealers' Associations) is the world association of art & antique dealer associations (representing 5000 dealers from 32 associations in 22 countries);
3. The Norfolk & Suffolk Antique Dealers Association - Representing reputable, high quality antiques dealers based in Norfolk and Suffolk; and
4. FSB - Federation of Small Business.
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