ST1220 HEAVY WOOD SANTOS FIGURE OF PURÍSIMA CONCEPCIÓN (THE VIRGIN OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION)


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ST1220 HEAVY WOOD SANTOS FIGURE OF PURÍSIMA CONCEPCIÓN (THE VIRGIN OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION)

PHILIPPINES, HISPANO-FILIPINO
CIRCA 18TH CENTURY
WOOD AND MIXED MATERIALS
H. 26 CMS, 10 INS

NOTE: Old repairs to hands

Santos, carved wood images of saints, were introduced into the Philippine archipelago during the 16th century by the Spanish soldiers and priests of the conquista. Figures of Christ, the Virgin Mary and a long litany of saints were made by local (including Chinese) craftsmen to grace church altars and domestic shrines.

Authentic Santos figures are extremely rare.

References:
P. 37 in Esperanza Bunag Gatbonton, A Heritage of Saints – Colonial Santos in the Philippines, Manila / Hong Kong: Esperanza Bunag Gatbonton & Editorial Associates Ltd, 1979.
P. 65 in Regalado Trota José, Images of Faith: Religious Ivory Carvings from the Philippines, Pasadena: Pacific Asia Museum, 1990.

Provenance: Private English collection.

 Price: £1,650=GBP