Eighteenth-Century Brass Standing Crucifix

This 18th-century brass crucifix features an elongated cross with decorative openwork finials, a sculpted figure of Christ, and an INRI plaque above. A skull and crossbones at the foot of the figure evokes Golgotha, the site of the Crucifixion. The cross rises from a round, stepped pedestal with a finely detailed border.

The brass retains a warm golden tone, with darker patina in the recesses and surface wear that lends depth to the sculptural details. A striking devotional piece with a slender silhouette and a strong sense of history.

Walter Wells began collecting crucifixes over many years, finding them in Paris shops and Provençal brocantes. Mostly French and dating from the 17th to 19th centuries, they fascinated him for their variations in form, materials and detail, particularly given his strict Protestant upbringing, where religious imagery was largely absent. Over time, Walter came to see each crucifix not simply as an object, but as an individual expression of sacrifice, grace, forgiveness and acceptance. Several examples from his collection are available for separate purchase.