New World, Mexico, Spanish Colonial style, ca. 19th century CE. A pretty, hand-carved wooden statue of the Virgin Mary with a dramatic, bright red cloth dress and deep blue cloth cloak, both trimmed with ornate gold ribbon. She wears a wig of real hair that is curled into several long ringlets, and has a pretty, delicate face. She stands atop a green and gold tiered pedestal. Her hands are clasped before her. A worshipper has placed a wooden cross on a chain around her body. A blue cloak and red dress are common depictions of the Holy Mother, with the blue symbolizing her purity, and the red love, passion, and devotion. Size: 6.25" L x 8.25" W x 14.75" H (15.9 cm x 21 cm x 37.5 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 private Francis & Lilly Robicsek collection, Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
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#120448
Condition
Clothing is not contemporary to wooden figure, but is old (early to mid 20th C.). Cloth has wear on surface, especially on skirt, with a small hole low down on the cloak. Craquelure on face and hands, with small losses to paint and overpainting. The figure has a wig which has some losses near the hairline.