Carved Wood Cherub, Putti, Angel, 19th Century, Italy
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CLEARANCE!
This is a 19th century Italian Angel (Putto, Putti, Cherub, Amorini) carved out of full round lindenwood, gessoed and polychrome painted with shiny patina. It has its original hanger at its back and can be hung on a wall or ceiling. Paint loss as shown but no wood damage. Everything is intact so one can have the painting restored if it is desired. It is 19" High (20" high diagonal) x 9" Wide x 8" Deep and weighs a heavy 3lbs, 7oz.
HISTORY:
This piece was inherited by the previous owner from her parents. The family brought it to the US many years ago from Sweden. This piece was carved in Northern Italy (along the border of Germany) where it was originally bought in late 19th century by the grandparents of the previous owner. Here is something to know about this place in Northern Italy:
In the heart of the Italian Alps, shortly after having crossed the Italian border to Austria, driving south from Innsbruck, the famous Olympic town, on your way to Verona, the romantic medieval town home of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, you can't miss a sign indicating the Gardena-Valley. Once a narrow mountain valley, it has now become world famous both for the manufacture of wooden statues, figurines and toys.
This artistic production has its origins back in the 17th century when the poor mountain farmers began to pass the long winter evenings by carving. At the beginning simple implements for everyday use, including toys, where made. The wood used was soft pine from the surrounding forest.
Prompted by the necessity to survive, these farmers soon began to carry these simple products, to the important cities of Europe and sell them. Through their hard work and perseverance it did not take very long before they perfected their skills and were then able to go over to creative carving and produce works of higher quality and artistic merit.
Already by the year 1820 there were over 300 wood carvers in Ortisei, the main village of the Gardena-Valley. The first art school of the valley, set up in 1872 in Ortisei made a major contribution in consolidating these artistic skills which had been handed down from generation to generation, in that it continually gave new impulse and ensured an all-round training.
The Gardena art of wood-carving is now world famous.
