English School (18th Century or Earlier)

Artist: English School (18th Century or Earlier)
Title: Mythological God, (Probably Thor “The God of Thunder”)
Medium: Carved Stone
Size: Height 18.5 cm x Width 12 cm x Depth 24.5 cm.
Provenance: From an English Country Estate in Surrey, UK.
Condition: This item is in good condition with no losses and an aged patina with tool marks on the back.

About: A finely carved stone corbel from Surrey country estate with a dark-aged patina. Dating back to the 18th Century or earlier this probably would have been one of a pair, and is a carving of a Mythological God, (Probably Thor “The God of Thunder”). Early hand-carved stone corbels depicted mythology as can be seen with this example. From Norse mythology, Thor is associated with thunder, lightning, storms, strength, oak trees, hallowing, healing, fertility and the protection of humankind.

A corbel has come to mean an architectural block or bracket projecting from a wall, often in the eave of a roof overhang. Its function is to support, or appear to support a ceiling, beam, shelf, or roof overhang itself. Although indoor use was common for fireplace supports or hallway arches.