λ THREE CARVED IVORIES
Indo-Portuguese Goa, South-Western India and possibly Ceylon, Sri Lanka, 17th - 18th century

Comprising an Indo-Portuguese ivory figure of Christ as the Good Shepherd, carved in a seated position with his eyes closed, leaning on his right hand, a lamb on his left shoulder and another on his knee, a gourd of water under his elbow, 6.5cm high; and a pair of finely carved knight chess pieces, the horses with floral medallions on the foreheads and backs at the bottom of the mane, each ca. 3.5cm high.

The specific Christian iconography of Christ as the Good Shepherd was very dear and common in the production of Indo-Portuguese ivories, especially in Goa. These carvings often merged Christian subjects with iconographic elements familiar to the local Indian believers. Indeed, it has been suggested that this style of depicting Christ as a child is influenced by the iconography of the infant Krishna, whilst his dreamy, serene expression evokes images of the Buddha.

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