The youthful king from Africa is depicted in an elegant pose, holding a vessel of frankincense in one hand and its lid in the other. He wears contemporary courtly attire from the time of its creation: a hip-length garment with wide sleeves, tight-fitting trousers, and pointed boots with folded shafts. He is one of the Magi who, according to biblical tradition, brought gifts to the newborn Christ Child.

In addition to representing the three stages of life, the Magi often also symbolised the three continents known at the time—Europe, Asia, and Africa. Their different origins were intended to emphasise the universal significance of the Christ Child.

The use of Swiss stone pine wood points to the figure’s production in the Alpine region, where this tree species is native. The size of the sculpture suggests the impressive scale of the altarpiece to which the king originally belonged.