An Italian pink limestone bird, Spoleto, mid-14th century

Height x width x depth: 85 x 150 x 20 cm.

A large figure of a peacock or pheasant carved in the round on pink limestone. Typical of the areas of the Apennines between Umbria and Marche, it is a very difficult stone to work, as it does not make the surfaces smooth and polished, thus not allowing very fine carving.
The closed tail and erect head are typical of this type of bird, while the head crest has probably been lost over time.
The left flank of the animal has some faults on the surface due to time, probably because the work was intended to stand in an open place and this side was exposed to the weather.
As mentioned in the expertise drawn up by Prof. Alessandro Delpriori, it was part of a pair of birds jutting out from the façade of the San Giuliano complex in Spoleto, from which the sculpture probably derives.

This lot is accompanied by expertise drawn up by Prof. Alessandro Delpriori, Phd in Art History, University of Florence, contract professor of Art History at the University of Camerino.

Accompanied by Cultural Heritage export licence.