DEMONIC HEAD SCULPTURE

Carved in the round, this sculpture represents a grimacing demonic head, executed in solid oak, a European work datable to the 19th century. The face shows deliberately accentuated modelling, with a furrowed brow, pronounced supra-orbital ridges, a deeply hollowed oblique gaze and a slightly open mouth revealing a protruding tongue. Two carved horns emerge from the top of the skull and directly contribute to the infernal physiognomy of the figure. The hair, treated in thick locks, frames the face without concealing these horned attributes.

The reverse is hollowed out and roughly dressed, indicating its function as an applied element intended to be fixed onto panelling, furniture or an architectural decorative scheme. Old fixing traces can be observed, along with a central mounting recess. The execution, frank and expressive, belongs to the realm of popular ornament or to a workshop of decorative carving.

The oak displays an old warm brown and homogeneous patina, with natural wear to the relief. Several shrinkage cracks are visible, including a principal fissure running from the top of the skull toward the ridge of the nose, accompanied by secondary checks related to the long-term drying of the wood. These openings are structurally stable and consistent with the species and age of the sculpture, and they do not affect either its solidity or its legibility. Overall, the piece remains remarkably intact considering its age, retaining its full sculptural presence and visual impact.

PERIOD : 19th century
DIMENSION : 26 cm × 19 cm
SIZE : 10.2" × 7.5"