Rare English 17th Century Religious Oak Carving of the Vulning Pelican

17th century

Sold by Kendall House Antiques Ltd.

Description

Carved from one piece of oak, with old fixing holes.

20.5cm high x 13.5cm wide.

Notes: The image of a pelican pecking its breast, often depicted in Christian art, symbolizes Christ's self-sacrifice and the redemption of humanity. This symbolism stems from an old legend where a pelican was believed to feed its young with blood drawn from its own breast.

The pelican was one of the most popular animal symbols for Christ in the Middle Ages, appearing widely in art and literature. The association was first made in the Physiologus, a Late Antique Greek compilation of moralized animal lore written (probably around the year 200) in Alexandria and intended for Christian edification.

The church sometimes refers to this allegorical bird as the “Vulning pelican” or the “Pelican in Her Piety".

Physical Dimensions

Height

20.5cm (8.07")

Width

13.5cm (5.31")

Declaration

Kendall House Antiques Ltd. has dated this piece to the 17th Century.

Reference Numbers

Sellingantiques Reference

SA1169409

Dealers Internal Reference

25641

Dealers Notes

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Description

Carved from one piece of oak, with old fixing holes.

20.5cm high x 13.5cm wide.

“

Notes: The image of a pelican pecking its breast, often depicted in Christian art, symbolizes Christ's self-sacrifice and the redemption of humanity.

Kendall House Antiques Ltd.

This symbolism stems from an old legend where a pelican was believed to feed its young with blood drawn from its own breast.

fig 1. Rare English 17th Century religious oak carving of the Vulning Pelican — fig 1. Rare English 17th Century Religious Oak Carving of the Vulning Pelican

The pelican was one of the most popular animal symbols for Christ in the Middle Ages, appearing widely in art and literature. The association was first made in the Physiologus, a Late Antique Greek compilation of moralized animal lore written (probably around the year 200) in Alexandria and intended for Christian edification.

The church sometimes refers to this allegorical bird as the “Vulning pelican” or the “Pelican in Her Piety".