19th C. Mexico Painted Wood Santo - Monk
**Originally Listed At $200**
New World, Mexico, Spanish Colonial period, ca. 19th century CE. A nicely carved wooden santo of a male religious figure who appears to be a Franciscan monk. He is shown kneeling, holding what looks like a book in one hand, perhaps a sign that he is meant to be Saint Anthony of Padua, who sometimes has a book as one of his attributes. The carving around the head and neck is particularly well done. Size: 4.25" W x 11" H (10.8 cm x 27.9 cm)
Santos played an important role in bringing the Catholic Church to the New World with the Spanish colonists. These religious figures were hand-carved and often furnished with crowns, jewels, and other accessories, usually funded by religious devotees, and were used as icons to explain the major figures - Mary, Christ, and the saints - to new, indigenous converts. Likewise, they served as a connection to the Old World for Spanish colonists far from home. They became a folk art tradition in the Spanish New World, from modern day Guatemala to as far north as New Mexico and Colorado. Many of them were lovingly cared for over the years, with repairs and paint added as they aged, and played an active part for a long time in the religious life of their communities.
Provenance: ex-Kurquhill's Gallery, El Paso, Texas, USA; ex-private El Paso, Texas, USA collection, acquired early to mid 1970s
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
We ship worldwide to most countries and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.
#127730
Condition Report: One hand missing and loss to upper back area. Loss to paint as shown, with some evidence for old overpainting, a common practice with santos.
View it on
Estimate
Time, Location
Auction House
**Originally Listed At $200**
New World, Mexico, Spanish Colonial period, ca. 19th century CE. A nicely carved wooden santo of a male religious figure who appears to be a Franciscan monk. He is shown kneeling, holding what looks like a book in one hand, perhaps a sign that he is meant to be Saint Anthony of Padua, who sometimes has a book as one of his attributes. The carving around the head and neck is particularly well done. Size: 4.25" W x 11" H (10.8 cm x 27.9 cm)
Santos played an important role in bringing the Catholic Church to the New World with the Spanish colonists. These religious figures were hand-carved and often furnished with crowns, jewels, and other accessories, usually funded by religious devotees, and were used as icons to explain the major figures - Mary, Christ, and the saints - to new, indigenous converts. Likewise, they served as a connection to the Old World for Spanish colonists far from home. They became a folk art tradition in the Spanish New World, from modern day Guatemala to as far north as New Mexico and Colorado. Many of them were lovingly cared for over the years, with repairs and paint added as they aged, and played an active part for a long time in the religious life of their communities.
Provenance: ex-Kurquhill's Gallery, El Paso, Texas, USA; ex-private El Paso, Texas, USA collection, acquired early to mid 1970s
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
We ship worldwide to most countries and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.
#127730
Condition Report: One hand missing and loss to upper back area. Loss to paint as shown, with some evidence for old overpainting, a common practice with santos.
Estimate
Time, Location
Auction House
