18th-century sculptor from Trapani
Holy Family
Ivory, turtle shell frame, 13 x 9 cm – with frame, 24 x 22 cm
The work is accompanied by its CITES certificate.
This admirable artifact confidently takes its place among 18th-century Sicilian sacred art productions, presenting itself as a superb example of Trapani micro-sculpture intended for domestic devotion. The work, encased within a solid octagonal frame of brown turtle shell, whose warm, flame-like texture creates an extremely elegant chromatic counterpoint, reveals within a complex and refined scene of the Holy Family. Against the dark velvet background, which emphasizes the luster and whiteness of the carved ivory by contrast, stand the figures of Mary and Joseph, captured in a moment of tender protection towards the Christ Child. At the center, the figure of the Child Christ serves as the visual and spiritual pivot, while above him unfolds the dazzling glory of the Holy Spirit, represented in the form of a dove surrounded by a ray of fine ivory blades that simulate divine light. Delicate cloud formations, also in ivory, emerge on the sides of the main figures, imparting a supernatural aura to the scene, while the group rests on a monumental shelf richly decorated with shell motifs and festoons, typical of the late Baroque repertoire. The structure is crowned by a gilded bronze crest, finely chiseled with an angelic face amidst volutes, which seals the sacred value of the object. In the 18th century, Trapani established itself as one of the most flourishing centers in the Mediterranean for the processing of exotic materials thanks to its strategic position and its long tradition linked to coral fishing and processing. Trapani sculptors developed a specialized technique in combining ivory, turtle shell, and gilded metals to meet the growing demand for private devotion objects from the aristocracy and upper bourgeoisie. These bedside artifacts were not mere furnishings but spiritual microcosms intended for bedrooms, where the preciousness of the materials underscored the importance of domestic worship. The ability to carve ivory with millimeter precision allowed for the translation of large Baroque statuary models into pocket-sized dimensions, making these artifacts masterpieces of artistic craftsmanship sought after throughout Europe and now preserved as rarities in museum collections.
