Sculpture, An Antique Dressing Mannequin Sculpture - 105 cm - Wood

This bare, schematic structure from the 18 th century encapsulates the fascinating mechanics of Baroque theatricality: the *vestidera* or *candelero* (mannequin-style) image. With its lower half reduced to a framework of wooden slats designed to support petticoats and skirts, the piece concentrates the sculptor's entire artistry on the realistically painted head and visible areas—features intended to receive add-ons, wigs, and rich fabric mantles that would blur the boundary between wood and living flesh. Far from being a sign of unfinished workmanship, this "candelero" structure served a precise liturgical and theatrical function within the Counter-Reformation; it allowed the effigy's attire to be changed according to the liturgical calendar or specific feast days, while significantly reducing the sculpture's weight to make processional movement easier. Stripped of its solemn vestments, the sculpture reveals its true nature as a theatrical artifact—a silent witness to an era that transformed illusion, sumptuous clothing, and the manipulation of the senses into the most powerful tools for popular devotion. - Provenance: Private collection in Madrid - Measurements: 105 x 19 x 21 cm - Regular condition, with a raw, antique taste. - The artwork will be shipped and packed professionally, and delivered to you in no time.

Estimate:£1,257.79

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