A RARE AND IMPORTANT FIRST HALF OF THE 16TH CENTURY GERMAN ALABASTER RELIEF DEPICTING THE PIETA the Virgin in the centre supporting the dead body of Christ, a skull beneath her feet, flanked by Mary Magdalene and St John, with further figures behind and the symbols of the Passion, the complex background depicting the crucifixion cross flanked by the Good Thief and the Bad Thief on their crosses, with figures on horseback and others preparing the tomb, carved in high relief with a flat back, 59cm high x 39cm wide x 9cm deep