Francisco Pallás y Puig (Quart de Poblet, Valencia... Lot 41

Francisco Pallás y Puig (Quart de Poblet, Valencia 1859-Valencia 1926) Imposing neo-gothic carved ivory triptych depicting the life of Christ, topped with the coat of arms of the Catholic Monarchs, whose figures appear sculpted on each side of the altarpiece. The whole of the altarpiece is bordered with delicate and detailed vine leaves, angels holding scrolls of parchment and busts of different characters. The doors at the side are decorated with contrasting wood and ivory certosina inlay forming a frieze which edges the doors. The interiors of the doors are decorated with ivory marquetry on tortoiseshell plaques on which there is Latin text. The exterior is made of carved wood with iron fittings bordered with an ebony and ivory contour, a small part of which remains. This is a magnificent example of Pallàs´ elaborate, detailed and magnificent quality of work on this type of portable altar, which is the reason why some of his work is kept in the best museums in the world. Open measurements: 55,5 x 70 cm. Central section measurements: 51 x 32 cm. Closed measurements: 55,5 x 35 cm. He began by making sticks for brisé fans and soon became a master of imitation of all styles in ivory. As indicated in his biographical details at the Prado Museum: "…Don Manuel Gómez Moreno believes him to be responsible “perhaps entirely” for all the Arab ivory imitations” the demand for which came mainly from New York and Frankfurt and which he could barely keep up with before the war.” He participated in various international exhibitions (Paris and USA) and was awarded various prizes: He was awarded a first class medal at the National Fine Arts Exhibition in Barcelona in 1896 for a magnificent chest. In the Universal Exhibition in Paris in 1900, he was given an honorable mention for an ivory sculpture: "The Alexandrian Wars", also and the Spanish exhibition of Mexican decorative arts and industries in 1910, he was awarded a medal and a commemorative