Not currently on display at the V&A

A male Saint

Statuette
ca. 1650 (made)
Artist/Maker
Unknown
Place of origin
Goa (made)

This statuette representing a male saint is made of painted hardwood and ivory. Although it has not been possible to analyse the wood, it is a hardwood, probably non-European. The combination of ivory and hardwood suggest that this piece is colonial. The unusual raised decoration on the wood confirms this, as do the facial features, which are slightly stylized, and reminiscent of Indo-Portuguese ivories from Goa. The identity of the saint is impossible to establish. It could have been an individual figure, or more likely from a group of Christ and the Twelve Apostles.


Object details

Categories
Sculpture
Christianity
Object type
Statuette
TitleA male Saint (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Ivory and hardwood with gilt gesso decoration
Hardwood
Ivory
Brief description
Statuette, ivory, 'A male Saint', Indo-Portugese (Goa), ca. 1650
Physical description
The bearded saint stands with his left arm bent, and the forearm apparently extended, although this is missing. He wears a long robe concealing his feet, and decorated with a raised foliate decoration, probably formed from gilded white ground. The ivory face and hair are painted. The body is of painted hardwood, with the ivory head inserted into it.
Dimensions
  • Height: 21.4cm
Style
Indo-Portuguese
Credit line
Given by Dr W.L. Hildburgh F.S.A. in 1927
Subject depicted
Saint
Summary
This statuette representing a male saint is made of painted hardwood and ivory. Although it has not been possible to analyse the wood, it is a hardwood, probably non-European. The combination of ivory and hardwood suggest that this piece is colonial. The unusual raised decoration on the wood confirms this, as do the facial features, which are slightly stylized, and reminiscent of Indo-Portuguese ivories from Goa. The identity of the saint is impossible to establish. It could have been an individual figure, or more likely from a group of Christ and the Twelve Apostles.
Bibliographic references
  • Trusted, Marjorie. Spanish Sculpture : Catalogue of the Post-Medieval Spanish Sculpture in Wood, Terracotta, Alabaster, Marble, Stone, Lead and Jet in the Victoria and Albert Museum. London: Victoria and Albert Museum, 1996, pp. 140-141, cat. no. 68
  • Trusted, Marjorie, Baroque & Later Ivories, Victoria & Albert Museum, London, 2013 pp. 375, 376
  • Trusted, Marjorie, Baroque & Later Ivories, Victoria & Albert Museum, London, 2013, pp. 375, 376, cat. no. 372
Collection
Sculpture Collection
Accession number
A.64-1927

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Record createdJune 24, 2009
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O310874/a-male-saint-statuette-unknown/
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