A Rare 12th-Century Romanesque Madonna and Child

This late 12th-century Virgin and Child from Auvergne once served as a reliquary. Works of this kind and from this period, complete and carved by a single hand, are extremely rare Auvergne, late 12th century, walnut Virgin and Child sedes sapientiae carved in the round with traces of polychrome, sitting on an arched throne, h. 75 cm/29.52 in.Estimate: €60,000/80,000 This statue of Mary sitting on a thronelike stool holding the Christ Child on her lap is more spellbinding than beautiful. The hieratic depiction is known as a Throne of Wisdom or sedes sapientiae, in which Mary is presenting her son, who has come to save the world from sin, to the