Saint John the Apostle, Germany late 15th century

Impressive and large statue of Saint John blessing the chalice with demons. The elegant young apostle wears a long tunic with rounded collar and has His cloak draped round His left shoulder, under the right arm and resting on the left arm. The cloak falls down in a marvelous labyrinth of complex draping, typical for late gothic period. He holds the chalice in His left hand and blesses it with the long fingers of His right hand. Two dragon-like creatures stick their heads out of the chalice. One foot of the disciple sticks out from under the cloak: it is bare, as is typical for the iconography of Saint John. Marvelous face and beautiful thick curly hair. Masterly sculpted in one solid piece of hollowed oak (20 kg). Hands and chalice are original and unrestored (as the rest of the statue). Cracks overall over the sculpture, wear and some traces of xylophagi (front rim of the chalice, draping…) but in general: excellent condition. One of the two delicious little dragons (the one most in front) has lost the tip of its snout in the course of the centuries. Both are detailed with eyes and ears. Germany, late 15th century. Length: 98cm.

Legend has it that a priest at the Temple of Diana in Ephesus gave John a cup of poison to empty, but when he made the sign of the cross over the cup, the poison escaped in the form of a snake. John's attribute has therefore become a chalice, often with a snake, dragon or other demon-like creature sticking out.

Provenance: Acquired by Swedish Baron Gösta Åkerhielm whilst traveling in Germany ca 1900. Thence by descent to the present owner for more than a century. Baron Åkerhielm was minister of finance from 1874 until 1875 and prime minister of Sweden from 1889 until 1891.