St. Andrew, Wood Carving from Val Gardena

Saint Andrew, carved in the Val Gardena tradition, shows the saint in a contemplative pose with downcast eyes and an eloquent gesture. The sculpture features a reddish-brown tunic contrasted with a gold and dark olive-green mantle, a mahogany-toned saltire cross and a base simulating rocky terrain. Carving is meticulous — flowing folds, and finely modelled beard and hair — with a hand-finished polychrome wash that lets the wood grain show and gilded inserts providing opaque or satin highlights.

Made to Dolfi standards: maple wood is used for sizes up to 56 cm, with linden wood for larger sizes. Sculpted and hand-painted in Val Gardena, the statue is offered as a devotional piece and an example of regional craftsmanship.