Antique Bronze Devotional Crucifix

This small antique bronze devotional crucifix has a beautifully restrained form, with a finely modelled figure of Christ, an INRI plaque and a simple suspension loop above. Its softly worn surface and traces of verdigris give the bronze a rich, time-earned patina, while its compact scale suggests a personal object intended to be carried, hung or kept close at hand. 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.