λ A CARVED IVORY FIGURE OF CHRIST AS A BABY BOY
Indo-Portuguese Goa, Western India, 18th century

λ A CARVED IVORY FIGURE OF CHRIST AS A BABY BOY
Indo-Portuguese Goa, Western India, 18th century

The figurine carved in the round, standing up straight on a later stepped wooden pedestal, the two hands carved in a gesticulating manner conveying realism and expression to the sculpture, the thick blonde locks on the head deeply carved and gilt, the brown eyes painted as well, traces of red pigment on the lips, 30cm high including the pedestal.

Similar ivory figurines with a clear Christian subject and iconography have been usually ascribed to the ivory carving production centre of Goa, on the Western coast of the Indian Subcontinent. During the Portuguese domination, this centre produced some of the most exquisite examples of devotional Christian ivory figurines and some have been seen performing very well at auction before. As an example, please see Christie's London, 10 June 2015, lot 23, and Sotheby's London, 6 October 2015, lot 137.

This item may require Export or CITES licences in order to leave the UK or the European Union. It is the buyer's responsibility to ensure that lots have the relevant licences before shipping.