Elephant ivory Crucifix on a tortoiseshell and mother-of-pearl cross, Italy (?), 17th century

elephant ivory crucifix (Elephas maximus Linnaeus, 1758 or Loxodonta africana Blumenbach, 1797), placed on a wooden cross veneered with mother - of - pearl and tortoiseshell (hawksbill sea turtle, Eretmochelys imbricata, Cheloniidae). The figure of the Saviour is studied anatomically; the hands are slightly ajar and the nail holes are located closer to the wrist and not in the centre of the hand. The head has the crown of thorns and is folded towards the right shoulder, facing upwards; the soft hair falls to the shoulders, the eyes are open and turned towards heaven and the mouth is half - closed. The legs of the crucifix are positioned parallel, the feet are overlapped and nailed together. The private parts are covered by a loincloth with a side drape. On the cross, above the ivory crucifix, is the cartouche with the Titulus Crucis I.N.R.I.

Item condition grading: **** good, missing some mother-of-pearl parts.