Brass Corpus Value Guide

This mid-20th century Brass Corpus is a cast metal depiction of Jesus Christ designed for attachment to a crucifix. Produced between 1940 and 1960, these European devotional items represent a significant era of mass-produced religious art intended for Catholic homes and churches.

What Is Brass Corpus Worth?

The typical price range for Brass Corpus is $35 - $50 based on recent sales. However, values can vary depending on the item's condition, rarity, and other factors such as:

• The presence of original mounting hardware or the original wooden cross can increase value.
• Condition of the brass finish, specifically the lack of heavy pitting or corrosion on the metal alloy.
• Intricacy of the casting, as more detailed anatomical features command higher prices within the $35-$50 range.
• Provenance or specific European regional markings that confirm its mid-century origin.

How to Identify Brass Corpus?

• Check for a hollow-back or flat-back casting typical of mid-century European mass production.
• Look for the characteristic golden-yellow patina of aged brass or heavy metal alloys from the 1940-1960 era.
• Inspect for small mounting holes located at the hands and feet designed for cross attachment.
• Identify stylistic details consistent with Western Christian iconography from the mid-20th century.

History of Brass Corpus

The use of the corpus, or the depiction of Christ's body on the cross, became common practice in Western Christianity around the 10th century. Pieces like this, made of base metals such as brass, were mass-produced throughout the mid-20th century, particularly in European countries, to meet the high demand for devotional items in Catholic homes and churches.