Preliminary identification
Photo reference
5 uploaded photos
Overview
This is an elongated, hand-carved and polychrome-painted wooden effigy depicting Saint Lucy (Santa Lucia), identified by the dish she holds bearing two eyes and the martyr's palm frond at her feet. The reverse features painted devotional symbols including the Alpha and Omega (Α Ω), an intertwined monogram, and a star.
Story
Saint Lucy of Syracuse has been venerated since antiquity as the patron of sight. This stylized carving fuses ancient Byzantine iconography with modern 20th-century expressionist folk woodcarving.
Maker / Origin
While the specific artist remains unsigned, the piece reflects the vibrant mid-to-late 20th-century studio craft movement where makers revived liturgical folk art traditions, using reclaimed planks, gouge carving, and bold tempera or acrylic pigments.
Condition & Value
Presents in good, stable vintage condition with intentional rustic weathering, visible wood grain, minor paint flaking along natural grain fissures, and light surface grime consistent with age. This rustic character enhances folk art appeal.
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Comparable demand stays strongest where maker, originality, and venue confidence line up. Broader examples still trade, but the range tightens quickly when provenance, condition, or selling lane fit is missing.
Best Venue
Specialty auction or a focused dealer with buyers already in this lane.
Signed example with light edge wear and original frame.
Comparable format with stronger provenance and cleaner surface.
Smaller related piece with visible craquelure and trimmed margins.
Period match with softer condition and weaker subject matter.
Close market lane comp with similar material and presentation.