Lot 111A
New World, Central America, Spanish Colonial style, ca. 19th century CE. A fine example of a wooden nicho with a wooden santo inside of it. The nicho itself is painted dark blue, with triangular insets painted with leaf patterns at the top. Three sides have arched glass; the front panel swings forward on hinges to allow access to the santo within. The interior has shiny red paper plastered to its back and floor that provides nice contrast to the darker colors of the nicho. The santo is a woman wearing all white who stands with her arms raised. She probably once held identifiable attributes. Size: 5.95" L x 10.95" W x 15.2" H (15.1 cm x 27.8 cm x 38.6 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: private D. C. collection, California, USA; D. C. is an Emmy Award winning Hollywood writer and Executive Producer, collected before 2000
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#126437
- Condition: Cracks from age on the surface as shown, with expected wear to the paint. Small losses to red interior background, which is newer than the nicho itself. Glass is also new. The santo is missing its hands and has losses to pigment. Craquelure to paint on surface of santo, with areas of overpainting, as is common on santos.
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