English Carved Oak Corbel Depicting a ‘Green Man’

An Interesting English Carved Oak Corbel Depicting a ‘Green Man’ with a long flowing moustache and curled beard
Traces of original polychrome
16th Century
Size: 38cm high, 23cm wide, 21cm deep – 15 ins high, 9 ins wide, 8¼ ins deep
The Green Man signifies irrepressible life, but his origins are mysterious reaching back into the depths of pre-history. Although regarded as a pagan image his face can be found in over one hundred churches and cathedrals in Britain and there are some 30 pubs bearing his name in London alone. His guardian spirit personified forests and he is linked to the cults of sacred trees where he represents the intelligence underlying the world of vegetation. In Greek myth Adonis is born from a tree. The Roman God Dionysus was linked to the vine, rebirth and divination. The Christian myth of Eden centres upon a tree that possesses knowledge of good and evil, but the Green Man is most probably derived from the ancient Celts who believed in the head as the seat of the soul with sacred and magical protective powers.

English Carved Oak Corbel Depicting a ‘Green Man’

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ENQUIRIES

+44 (0)7768 236921
+44 (0)7836 684133

enquiries@finch-and-co.co.uk