Mary (from a nativity)

Unknown

18th century (?) possibly later · Wood, polychromed and gilded; ivory touched up with polychromy (face and shoulders) · The American Wing

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.

Artist

Unknown

Date

18th century (?) possibly later

Medium

Wood, polychromed and gilded; ivory touched up with polychromy (face and shoulders)

Culture

Ecuadorian and Philippine

Department

The American Wing

Credit line

Gift of Loretta Hines Howard, 1964