Success for a 12th-Century Carved Madonna

The central composition together with Christ's frontal position, this Madonna and Child clearly still belongs to the 12th century. However, it is stylistically far removed from the Massif Central group of Madonnas. The fine facial features and radiating folds of the cloak on Mary's breast are also found in a small series of 12th-century Sedes Sapientiæ (Throne of Wisdom) grouped together under the term of "Senlis style", in reference to the Coronation of the Virgin found on the central tympanum of Senlis Cathedral. All this ensured that the carved walnut statue with traces of polychromy fetched the highest bid, at €106,600, in…