Western Europe, Spain or Spanish Colonial Period, ca. 18th to early 19th century CE. A hand-carved Santo head of a woman made from elephant ivory with glass eyes and human hair. The piece is made in 3 parts: the cranium with a hollow interior cavity, the sliced "skull cap lid," and the wig- the interior was carved out in order to insert the glass eyes. She has a gentle and highly naturalistic expression; lips and nostrils highlighted by a red pigment, and her cheeks have a faint blush. This head may have once been attached to a wood and textile body of a Santo representing the Virgin Mary or another saint. Size: 2.5" L x 2.125" W x 3.25" H (6.4 cm x 5.4 cm x 8.3 cm)
This is an ESA antique exempt piece of ivory and cannot be sold internationally or to anyone residing in the states of California, Hawaii, Illinois, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, and Washington. We guarantee that the piece was made prior to 1972.
Provenance: private Jacksonville, Florida, USA collection; ex-Nordby private collection, acquired in the USA in the 1960s
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.
PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance),
we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm.
Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.
#172325
Condition
Head repaired and chip to right ear, stable fissures. Hair / skull cap are loose and not attached to rest of skull. Natural black striations and glass eyes are intact. Hair could be gently rearranged and reattached to skull.