FRAME, SOUTHERN NETHERLANDS OR GERMANY, CIRCA 1680 Carved oak, surmounted by a 'wild man' on a helmet, the lower cartouche engraved with the inscription Johan Philip Wildeman Dimensions: 65 x 43 cm (25 ½ x 17 in.) A carved oak frame incorporating a Coat of Arms, Netherlandish or German, circa1680 Some of the ornamentation on the cartouches is reminiscent of engravings by the Dutch artist Hans Vredeman de Vries (1527-1606). The wild man was used as a symbol of mining in late medieval and Renaissance Germany. It appears on the coats of arms of Naila and Wildemann. The town of Wildemann, in the Upper Harz, was founded in 1529 by miners who, according to legend, encountered a wild man and a wild woman as they ventured into the wilds of the Harz mountain range. *Information for buyers: Lot from outside the EU: The hammer price is exclusive of VAT. VAT at the reduced rate of 5.5% applies to the hammer price. This VAT is recoverable for French professionals. It is reimbursable for a buyer from outside the EU on presentation of proof of export from the EU or for a professional bidder providing proof of an intra-Community VAT number and a document proving delivery in the Member State. *Information to the buyers : Lot from outside the EU : The hammer price and premium will be VAT excluded. 5.5% VAT will be added to the hammer price and premium. Upon request, this VAT can be refunded to the purchaser on presentation of written proof of exportation outside EU, or to the EU purchaser who will submit his intracommunity VAT number and a proof of shipment to an EU country.