An 18thC Italian Carved & Painted Figure of a Saint or Cardinal c.1740 sub-Religion & Relics literally means "writing with fire"

literally means "writing with fire" and is the traditional art of using a heated tip or poker to burn or scorch designs onto natural materials such as wood in this instance

a reminder of a medieval past governed by work

We believe through research that the remnants of the label to the reverse refer to a certain James Magill who was a photographer

The paper interior is interesting and has at least two layers dating 48 years apart

The whole is stable and useable

An 18thC Italian Carved & Painted Figure of a Saint or Cardinal c.1740 sub-Religion & Relics literally means "writing with fire"Origin: Italian Period: Mid 18thC Provenance: Unknown Date: 1740 Height: 32. 75 Width: 13. 5 Depth: 11 (all at extremities) The well carved and sized figure showing much of the original paint, now beautifully timeworn, one hand with fingers pinched, the other showing his palm, his eyes closed, with long flowing beard and red skullcap or zucchetto, wearing billowing robes, the reverse being hollowed out, having been an altar piece in an ecclesiastical