How do I identify a 16th century carving?

Sixteenth-century figures generally display dense native timbers like oak or limewood, shaped with vigorous hand-chiselled depth. They often show authentic tool marks and historic wear consistent with centuries of handling. Surface treatments on period pieces typically include degraded gesso, remnant polychromy, or aged patination rather than uniform modern finishes.

What is the difference between original and revival pieces?

Original period carvings from the sixteenth century carry the specific devotional or architectural context of their era. Nineteenth-century revival works emulate these historic styles, often reflecting Victorian or Grand Tour interpretations. Revival pieces frequently utilise different finishing techniques and exhibit tool patterns characteristic of mechanized or later workshop practices.

Why do some figures have missing paint?

Centuries of exposure to fluctuating temperatures, cleaning, and changing interior tastes cause gesso and polychrome layers to flake or wear away. Many devotional objects lost their bright painted surfaces over generations of active use. Exposed bare wood is a normal result of ageing rather than an automatic defect in early sculptural pieces.

Where were architectural figures originally placed?

Architectural figures like brackets, caryatids, and terminals formed structural supports within timber-framed buildings, panelling, or grand furniture. They bridged the gap between functional joinery and decorative art. Relief plaques and wall ornaments typically decorated domestic interiors, chapels, or institutional facades.

How should I care for antique wood sculptures?

Keep wooden sculptures away from direct sunlight, heat sources, and damp environments to prevent the timber from splitting or warping. Stable indoor humidity preserves both the wood substrate and any surviving gesso. Dust the surface gently with a soft, dry brush and avoid applying modern polishes or cleaning agents to historic finishes.

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Renaissance Wood Figures

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These renaissance wood figures bring centuries of devotion and craftsmanship into a room, spanning pious saints and mythological beasts.

19th century

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19th Century Italian Renaissance Style Carved Lime Wood Figure on Stand .

From Ruby Antiques

£3,500

3+ MONTHS AGO

miscellaneous

Pair of Gothic Carved Oak Saints, St John and Virgin , Germany, Circa 1500

Pre 16th century

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Pair of Gothic Carved Oak Saints, St John and Virgin , Germany, Circa 1500

From Treaders Collectables

£10,000

3+ MONTHS AGO

sculptures

19th century

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Pair 19th Century Carved Oak Griffin Terminals

From Timberhill Gallery

£675

3+ MONTHS AGO

miscellaneous

17th century

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17th Century Oak Carving

From Elaine Phillips Antiques Ltd

£495

3+ MONTHS AGO

miscellaneous

16th century

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Early 16th Century Flemish Carved Group

From Pearse Lukies Antiques Ltd

£2,400

3+ MONTHS AGO

sculptures

Large Carved Dutch/flemish Carved Hallstand

19th century

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Large Carved Dutch/flemish Carved Hallstand

From Georgian Antiques

£3,500

3+ MONTHS AGO

furniture

16th century

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A 16th Century Carved Bust of St. Jude

From Oliveri Antiques Ltd

£3,750

3+ MONTHS AGO

sculptures

16th century

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Pair of 16th Century, Oak Carved Building Brackets

From Oliveri Antiques Ltd

£4,950

3+ MONTHS AGO

miscellaneous

16th century

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16th Century Carved Wood Bust

From Pearse Lukies Antiques Ltd

£3,600

3+ MONTHS AGO

sculptures

17th century

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17th Century Carved Oak Caryatid

From Karen Tarleton

£195

3+ MONTHS AGO

miscellaneous

Listings feature oak, walnut, and limewood pieces ranging from sixteenth-century religious sculptures to nineteenth-century architectural decorations and revival figures.

16th century

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16th Century Giltwood and Polychrome Group Carving – 'God and Mary'

From Treaders Collectables

£10,000

3+ MONTHS AGO

miscellaneous

16th century

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Superbly Carved Large Mid 16th Century Continental Limewood Figure of St. John the Baptist

From LVS Decorative Arts

£8,250

3+ MONTHS AGO

sculptures

16th century

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16th Century Corpus Christi - Parcel Gilt and Polychromed Lime Wood

From Vicky Thomas Antiques

£860

3+ MONTHS AGO

miscellaneous

Very Decorative Carved Reliefs/sculpture of a Man and a Woman Circa 1540

16th century

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Very Decorative Carved Reliefs/sculpture of a Man and a Woman Circa 1540

From Koos Limburg Jnr. Scotland

£1,950

3+ MONTHS AGO

sculptures

← 1 2 →

Renaissance Wood Figures

19th Century Italian Renaissance Style Carved Lime Wood Figure on Stand .

Pair of Gothic Carved Oak Saints, St John and Virgin , Germany, Circa 1500

Pair 19th Century Carved Oak Griffin Terminals

17th Century Oak Carving

Early 16th Century Flemish Carved Group

Large Carved Dutch/flemish Carved Hallstand

A 16th Century Carved Bust of St. Jude

Pair of 16th Century, Oak Carved Building Brackets

16th Century Carved Wood Bust

17th Century Carved Oak Caryatid

16th Century Giltwood and Polychrome Group Carving – 'God and Mary'

Superbly Carved Large Mid 16th Century Continental Limewood Figure of St. John the Baptist

16th Century Corpus Christi - Parcel Gilt and Polychromed Lime Wood

Very Decorative Carved Reliefs/sculpture of a Man and a Woman Circa 1540

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