Early 19th-Century French Brass Standing Crucifix

A refined early 19th-century French standing crucifix in brass, with a slender shaft, trefoil terminals, and a stepped tripod base. The figure of Christ is delicately cast beneath the INRI plaque, while a small skull and crossbones motif below alludes to Golgotha. Its simple silhouette and softly aged brass give it a quiet, understated presence. 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.