Where did these carvings originate?

The majority stem from continental European workshops across France, Spain, Italy, Flanders, and Germany. Regional styles reflect local ecclesiastical traditions and baroque aesthetics. Craftsmen in these areas produced devotional art for churches, private chapels, and domestic shrines using native hardwoods.

How do I care for wooden carvings?

Keep wooden sculptures and panels away from direct heat sources and drastic humidity fluctuations. Stable environmental conditions protect fragile gesso and polychrome layers from cracking. Dust the surfaces gently with a soft, dry cloth without applying modern liquid polishes or chemical cleaners.

Are these pieces from churches?

Many panels and figures originated as parts of larger altarpieces, church screens, or architectural church furnishings. Others were created for private devotional use in domestic settings. Secularisation and changing liturgical fashions over the centuries led to these items entering private collections.

What is a corpus christi?

A corpus christi is a sculptural representation of Christ on the cross. These pieces focus specifically on the figure rather than the cross itself. Carvers rendered them in various scales, from small boxwood figures to monumental wall sculptures.