An Italian carved pine and polychrome decorated figure of Saint Christopher 17th century The Saint modelled standing wearing a blue and gilt-highlighted cloak, his staff in his right hand with the infant Christ seated on his left shoulder holding a sphere on a square base, 14cm wide, 12cm deep, 56.5cm high (5 1/2in wide, 4 1/2in deep, 22in high) Footnotes: Provenance Bonhams, Oxford, The Oak Interior, 1 October 2014, lot 191, where acquired According to Christian legend, a giant man helped travellers cross a river by carrying them safely to the opposite bank. One evening, a small child asked to be carried across. The man was astonished by the child's extraordinary weight. The child explained that he bore the sins of the world upon his shoulders, symbolised in this carved group by the sphere he holds (a globe) in his left hand. The giant man thereafter became known as Christopher, meaning 'Christ-bearer'. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com For further information about this lot please visit the lot listing