A PARCEL-GILT POLYCHROME CARVED IVORY FIGURE OF SAINT JOHN THE BAPTIST

Large scale ivory sculptures from the Philippines are rare surviving evidence of the luxury trade through Manila during the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries. In contrast with smaller mass-produced works made in Goa, ivory carvings from Manila, made from the highest quality African and Indian elephant tusks, were often individual commissions for wealthy patrons and ecclesiastical houses.
The more popular Philippine subjects included the crucified Christ, the Virgin and Child and saints such as Saint John the Baptist. Made by Philippine or Chinese craftsmen, these figures display a stylistic interpretation of Western forms and iconography while also incorporating local cultural artistic expressions. Ivory devotional figures of this type were popular throughout the Spanish empire following the spread of Catholic missionaries in the late 16th and early 17th century.
This beautifully carved figure is stylistically similar to other ivory figures of Saint John the Baptist conserved in Spain (Estella, loc. cit.), with comparable almond eyes, lobed nostrils, divided beard, individually defined curls of hair and squat feet. It corresponds very closely to another example that holds a staff surmounted by a cross (Estella, op. cit., cat. 619). The polychrome and gilt decoration on the present lot can also be seen in other Hispano-Philippine ivories of the same period, such as a figure of Saint John the Baptist in the Cathedral of Badajoz, Spain (Estella, op. cit, cat. 617). Two outstanding examples of Hispano-Philippine large scale religious ivory sculpture were sold at Christie's King Street, 5 July 2001, lot 183 and 5 July 2013, lot 142.