Ivory/Wood Indo-Portuguese San Antonio de Padua, 19th Century
 |
   |
|
Click to enlarge image(s)
|
ON SALE NOW!
An early to mid 19th century Portuguese Colonial from Goa, India santos carved out of ebony and ivory. Early missionaries devote themselves to prayer and usually have in their possession small portable altars consisting of various small religious objects and statues. This statue is reminiscent of that period and represents Saint Anthony or San Antonio de Padua. It is 6 ¾” high X 2 ¾” wide X 1 ¾” deep. The head, two hands, feet and leaf ornament attached to the base are carved out of elephant ivory. The natural black hardwood (ebony) body and base is very dense and is very heavy (like it is made of stone). It weighs 8.3 ounces. The ivory stick he is holding is broken at the top (it is possibly a lily). He is normally holding a book with the infant Jesus on top of it.
HISTORY:
The majority of Indo-Portuguese statuettes are made from ivory, although some pieces may combine ivory and wood, in which case ivory is used for the head – this was most probably for economic reasons, since ivory was a precious and expensive material. Some statuettes are made entirely from wood.
Silver and gold were used for the accessories, such as the crowns worn by the saints. Often painted, traces of color or gilt can still be seen on a good number of these objects.
This piece is made from ivory and wood. The faces and the hands of the Saints are made from ivory; the bodies and the pedestal are made from wood, and still have traces of gilt on them.
