How were polychrome wooden sculptures used?

These sculptures served primarily as devotional objects in churches, private chapels, and domestic shrines across Europe and Asia. Many pieces functioned as central focal points in altarpieces or as processional figures during religious festivals. Other items fulfilled secular purposes, ranging from trade signs outside shops to decorative figures and folk art objects in domestic interiors.

How do I distinguish European from Asian pieces?

European works often draw from Christian iconography, featuring saints, Madonnas, and motifs tied to Gothic, Renaissance, or Baroque styles. The wood choices commonly lean towards oak, walnut, and limewood. Asian carvings typically depict deities, scholars, or regional animals executed under stylistic influences such as the Qing Dynasty. Lacquer finishes and specific pigment palettes also point toward Asian workshops.

What does original polychromy mean?

Original polychromy refers to the historic paint and gilding applied to the sculpture when it was first created. Surviving early pigment layers provide crucial evidence about the object's age and artistic context. Many pieces underwent later repainting during subsequent centuries of use and repair. Tracing the original layers requires close examination under magnification or specialised lighting.