Mary (from a nativity)

18th century (?) possibly later

Not on view

The ivory heads of Mary and Joseph were among the numerous such parts imported to America via the Manila Galleon trade. The style of the figures' polychromy, however, reveals that they were set into their wooden bodies in Ecuador. Artists there practiced a distinctive technique to embellish the garments of their sculptures, applying gold patterns over the colored backgrounds rather than scratching them through, as in true estofado.

Artwork Details

Object Information

Overview

Title: Mary (from a nativity)
Date: 18th century (?) possibly later
Geography: Probably made in Philippines; (none assigned) Ecuador
Culture: Ecuadorian and Philippine
Medium: Wood, polychromed and gilded; ivory touched up with polychromy (face and shoulders)
Dimensions: H. 7 3/4 in. (19.7 cm.)
Credit Line: Gift of Loretta Hines Howard, 1964
Object Number: 64.164.172
Curatorial Department: The American Wing

More Artwork

In the same medium

From the same time and place

Joseph (from a nativity), Wood, polychromed and gilded; ivory touched up with polychromy (face and shoulders), Ecuadorian and Philippine — Joseph (from a nativity)
Ecuadorian and Philippine
18th century (?) possibly later

Child Jesus (from a nativity), Ivory (or possibly bone?) and wood, polychromed and gilded., Ecuadorian and Philippine — Child Jesus (from a nativity)
Ecuadorian and Philippine
18th century (?)

Shield, Wood, polychromy, Philippine, Moro — Shield
Philippine, Moro
18th–19th century

Good Shepherd, Ivory, with traces of gilding and polychromy, Indo-Portuguese — Good Shepherd
Indo-Portuguese
17th–18th century

Drum, Wood, cowhide, rattan, Philippine, Moro — Drum
Philippine, Moro
18th–19th century

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