Ivory Sculpture of Saint Joseph

Carved wooden male figure. The head and hands, made of ivory, have glass eyes while the hair, eyelashes, eyebrows and lips are polychrome. She has a dress made of green silk satin, decorated on the front with metallic sheets applied two by two, vertically, with yellow silk thread. The decoration at the bottom of the dress consists of cocoons linked by sinuous stems. The cocoons are made with metallic foil checkered on the upper part, on two V-shaped leaves made with metallic cord. They appear framing the upper cocoon and in the lower center, two leaves, placed symmetrically, made of metal foil. The cuffs and neck are finished with trimmings consisting of yellow silk taffeta, with lace, and on the chest, a U-shaped piece, decorated with metallic fringe framed by a vertical line of sequins. The lining is white cotton taffeta. Pairs with part CE08469.

Reasoned Classification The head follows the typical Spanish-Filipino model of the 19th century, as does the clothing, made in nipis and with metallic embroideries in relief very characteristic of the Philippine productions of the time.
BIBLIOGRAPHY: ARBETETA MIRA, L. (com.), Oro, frankincense and myrrh. Nativity scenes in Spain, Madrid, 2000, p. 170, no. cat. 119.
Cataloging Estella Marcos, Margarita Mercedes; Simal Lopez, Mercedes


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