Italian sculptor (early 20th century) - Masonic altar.

Italian sculptor (early 20th century) - Masonic altar. 56 x 52 x h 105 cm. Entirely in finely sculpted white marble. Two sculpted elements rest on the top, each wrapped by a serpent. The first depicts a globe encircled by a serpent, on whose surface is engraved a triangle with the Eye of Providence; the second depicts a skull, also wrapped by a serpent, between whose coils a leafy branch is inserted. The symbols allude to the Masonic iconographic repertoire: the globe surmounted by the eye refers to universal knowledge and the vigilance of divine Providence, the skull refers to the transience of earthly life (memento mori), while the serpent, a symbol of eternity and regeneration, and the branch, an emblem of victory over death, balance its meaning by evoking the continuity and immortality of the spirit. The circular marble top rests on three small columns with Corinthian capitals, which in turn are supported by a stepped octagonal base with angular volutes. In the center rises a tapered column, at the base of which, between the two sculpted groups, an iron key is embedded, and which ends at the top with a small metal candle holder for a single candle. Condition report: Good state of preservation of the marble surface, there are slight signs of yellowing due to time. All shipments within the EU are free and professionally packaged. This item is sold with a legally valid certificate of authenticity. Further details on the condition report are available upon request. Viezzi Arte guarantees quality and professionalism at competitive prices, contact us at [email protected] or via WhatsApp at +39 3402841279. Message to non-Italian buyers: This work has not yet obtained the free export certificate from Italy, issued by the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage, which attests that the work does not belong to the Italian cultural heritage and can therefore be exported freely. The regulation in force from 2026 provides for reduced times for works with a declared value of less than €50,000, established at the discretion of the expert commission: on average 2-3 weeks from the submission of the request. All costs related to this procedure are included in the price. Disclaimer Rendering: The setting images are generated with AI for illustrative purposes and may not respect the real proportions of the artwork.