New World Art Standing Christ Child Philippines, late 1600s ivory, 17 inches (43.2 cm) high Anonymous gift 1992.6

Between 1571 and 1815, Spanish galleons sailed between the Philippines and Mexico to provide an essential link for Spain between her colonies in Asia and the Americas. Among the trade goods carried on these ships were ivory figures made for wealthy Christians in the New World. This large image of Christ is sculpted from an ivory tusk with separately carved arms attached by pins. It was probably made by a Chinese artist living in Manila, who copied Christian imagery from European engravings.


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