Indo-Portuguese (Goa), 17th-18th C. Carved Virgin Mary on Wood Base

Indo-Portuguese (Goa), 17th-18th Century Carved Figure of the Virgin Mary


A finely carved figure of the Virgin Mary, hands joined in prayer and dressed in richly detailed drapery with scalloped and beaded borders. The long flowing hair and softly modeled features are characteristic of Goan ecclesiastical carvings made for the Jesuit missions under Portuguese patronage. The figure rests on its original turned wooden base. The carving displays a delicate balance of European Baroque grace and South Asian craftsmanship, typical of Indo-Portuguese devotional works of the period. THIS LOT CANNOT BE EXPORTED FROM CANADA. 

Details

Origin: Goa, India

Date: 17th-18th century

Dimensions: 9.5 in (24 cm) high

Features: Intricate drapery, incised decorative borders, serene facial expression

Label: Remnant of old green-bordered collection label beneath base

A fine and authentic example of Indo-Portuguese religious sculpture, reflecting the synthesis of European Christian iconography and Indian craftsmanship that flourished in colonial Goa. Comparable examples reside in the Victoria & Albert Museum and the Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga, Lisbon.

Provenance: 
Private Canadian collection; old European collection label to underside of base.

Condition: 
Good overall with natural patination and minor age-related wear; small losses to drapery edges, light surface lines, and oxidation consistent with age. Some old repairs on hands.