North-East French, circa 1400

The figure has suffered several breaks in the past and has now been restored. The Virgin's head has been reattached and her face possibly recarved. The child has been largely restored; its head and torso may be replacements. The bottom left corner of the base is reattached. There are a few smaller restorations, including to sections of the Virgin's veil, the Virgin's nose, her proper left foot, and to the top of her veil at the front. There is some fill to a section of the Virgin's veil at the back. There are a few losses, including a chip to the Virgin's forehead and a loss to the tip of the pinkie on her proper left hand. There are several chips and abrasions, including to the Virgin's head, the edges of the drapery, and notably around the bottom. There are three areas with lead fill at the back. Following its restoration, the figure was probably covered in a slip which has worn and flaked in areas. Otherwise the condition is stable. There are several remnants of polychromy, notably to the Virgin's hair and some blue on the Virgin's dress at the back.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

This beautiful Virgin and Child group compares with sculptures created in North East France at the end of the 14th and the beginning of the 15th centuries. Compare the thick, fluttering, drapes, with multiple swallow tail folds, with the statue of St. Mary Magdelen in the musée du Louvre, or the Virgin and Child published by Baccador, both attributed to Lorraine, circa 1400 (RF 1774; Boccador, op. cit., figs. 36, 37).

RELATED LITERATURE
J. Boccador, Statuaire medievale en France de 1400 à 1530, Paris, 1975, pp. 50-51, figs. 36-37; F. Baron (ed.), Sculpture Française i moyen âge, cat. musée du Louvre, Paris, 1996, p. 175