Altar Angel (one of a pair)

Art Historical Context

This exquisite *Altar Angel*, one a pair carved from oak around 1275–1300, hails from medieval France during the height of the Gothic era. Standing nearly 30 inches tall, the slender figure exemplifies the period's emphasis on spiritual elegance, with elongated proportions and graceful drapery that evoke a sense of heavenly poise. Originally part of a church altar ensemble, such angels flanked sacred scenes, serving as divine attendants to guide worshippers' gazes upward toward the divine. Crafted in oak—a durable wood favored for its fine grain and resistance to warping—the sculpture once bo...