Antique dressed religious statue of the 'cap i pota' type – 47 cm - Wood

OLD RELIGIOUS IMAGE “CAP I POTA” – POLYCHROMED WOOD – 19TH CENTURY – APPROX. 50 CM Antique vestir image of the “cap i pota” type, attributed to the 19th century, made mainly in carved and polychromed wood. Interesting piece of popular/devotional imagery, about 50 cm tall, characterized by its stylized and functional construction, designed to be dressed with textile clothing and originally complemented with religious attributes according to the depicted dedication. The figure retains a polychromed head and face, the body painted in a deep blue, outstretched arms, individually carved hands and long legs ending in shod feet. The whole set rests on its original or antique wooden pedestal with a polygonal plan. IDENTIFICATION AND TYPOLOGY Type: religious image to be dressed / devotional sculpture. Typology: “cap i pota”. Attributed period: 19th century. Main material: carved and polychromed wood. Height: approximately 50 cm, according to indication. Author/workshop: not identified. Signature or mark: not visible in the photographs. Dedication: not identified with certainty. This last point is important. I would not attempt to sell it as a specific Virgin or saint without knowing its original attributes. The current appearance is incomplete from an iconographic point of view: it was probably conceived to wear clothing, mantle, crown, halo or other attributes, and these elements could have allowed the identification of the dedication. WHAT DOES “CAP I POTA” MEAN? In the Catalan sphere, the designation “cap i pota” is used for dressed religious images whose execution concentrates especially on the parts that remained visible — head, hands and feet — while the rest of the body functions mainly as a structure to support the garments. This piece presents precisely several characteristics compatible with this tradition: extremely stylized anatomy, arms separated from the torso, individualized hands, long legs, worked feet and a simplified body that would have been largely hidden under the vestment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION The face is one of the most elaborated parts of the figure. It shows soft, elongated features, broad forehead, straight nose, small slightly open mouth and melancholic or contemplative-looking eyes. The hair appears gathered and painted in dark brown. On the back of the head there is a hole, possibly related to the old fixation of an attribute, halo or accessory element. Without the original attribute, its exact function cannot be determined. The flesh tones are light with subtle pinkish hues on cheeks and lips. The torso is extraordinarily stylized, with a narrow waist and a kind of inner body or dress painted in intense blue, with a pronounced neckline. The surface shows irregularities, marks and wear typical of an old handcrafted piece. The arms are open and slightly forward, probably in a position designed to interact with some attribute currently missing. HANDS The hands are particularly interesting and reinforce the artisanal character of the piece. They have individualized fingers and simplified anatomy. Cracks, wear and losses are evident. In one hand there is significant loss in one finger, revealing interior material and traces of an old repair or intervention. The other hand preserves the finger structure better, though it shows superficial cracks, loss of polychromy and small losses. Due to their fragility, I would expressly advise not to handle the figure by the hands or arms. LEGS AND FEET The legs are long, narrow and almost straight, perfectly fulfilling the structural function of an image meant to be covered by clothing. Polychromy shows deep darkening and losses, especially in the lower areas. The feet are individually worked and appear to be wearing sandals, whose outlines are drawn in dark color. The toes are carved and defined individually. It is an attractive detail that deserves to appear in the listing photos. PEANA (PEDestal) The image is mounted on a wooden pedestal with a polygonal base, wide relative to the figure to provide stability. The top surface is very dark, with visible wood grain, wear, craquelure, stains and abrasions. There is a longitudinal crack on one side of the pedestal, in addition to losses and bumps around the perimeter. The bottom is untreated wood, with visible marks, holes and signs from mounting and the passage of time. No label, signature or clearly identifiable inscription is visible in the provided photographs. MEASUREMENTS With the data you provided, I would publish: Total height: approximately 50 cm Other measurements should not be inferred from the photos. For a professional listing I would state: Height: approx. 50 cm In an antique piece like this, those data are quite important for sale and transport. CONSERVATION STATE The sculpture is preserved in an antique state, with wear and visible flaws in line with its age and use, not restored by us unless you know otherwise. There are losses and generalized wear of the polychromy; dirt and superficial patina; scratches and bumps; small cracks in different areas; pronounced wear on the legs and protruding areas; craquelure and cracks in the hands; loss/partial breakage of at least one finger; small holes and marks on the body and rear part; wear of the hair polychromy and flesh tones; and a visible crack in the pedestal. The previously mentioned hole in the back of the head is also visible, possibly originally intended for some accessory element. The figure currently lacks clothing and attributes, if it originally had them, a circumstance that should be indicated in the listing. Do not perform any aggressive cleaning, sanding, varnishing or repainting before selling: in ancient imagery, an improper intervention can significantly reduce the piece’s appeal. Antique vestir image of the “cap i pota” type, attributed to the 19th century, mainly in carved and polychromed wood. Approximate height about 50 cm. Interesting piece of popular devotional religious imagery, characterized by its stylized construction typical of images conceived to be dressed. The figure retains a polychromed head with delicate expression, body painted in intense blue, open arms with carved hands, long independent legs and feet clothed with sandals, with the toes individually worked. The face stands out especially, with soft features and contemplative expression, eyes painted, mouth slightly open and hair gathered in a dark shade. At the back of the head there is a small hole, possibly intended originally for the fixation of an attribute, halo or radiance, which is not conserved. The image is mounted on an old wooden pedestal of polygonal plan, with a dark surface and marked patina. The piece shows evident signs of time passage: wear and losses of polychromy, rubbing, stains, small cracks, craquelure, blows and material losses. One hand shows deterioration and partial loss of a finger. The pedestal also shows wear and a longitudinal crack. Currently it is preserved without clothing or religious attributes, so we cannot determine with certainty the specific dedication it originally represented. No author/workshop signature or mark is visible. The attribution to the 19th century is based on its typology and constructive features, without documentation to establish an exact date. Approximate height: 50 cm. A highly decorative piece with great character, especially interesting for collectors of sacred art, popular imagery, religious carvings, Spanish antiquities and “cap i pota” figures. It is sold exactly in the condition shown in the photographs, which form part of the description.

Estimation:€450

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