Spanish Colonial Carved Wooden Stand for a Christian Ivory Figure

This splendid stand carved from heavy hardwood was almost certainly intended as a stand for a religious Christian ivory figure such as a saint or perhaps Mary. Mostly such figures were carved in the Philippines from African ivory.

The deep, lustrous patina and the motifs suggest a 16th century dating and perhaps into the 17th century. It is from Alto Perú (the Andean region of modern Bolivia and Peru).

The stand has a lobed base, an oval section on top, and then two moveable wings or supports. All sections are carved with sprays of foliage amid which there are animals such as long-necked birds, jaguar-like creatures and sinewy mythical creatures with long bodies and long necks from which emerge human-like heads.

Some creatures seem to emerge from the foliage itself. Others have been depicted with foliage-like elements. The lions, for example, have paws that seem to end in tendrils.

Three deeply cut roundels are carved with human heads and shoulders.

The piece is held together by old, thick, hand-made iron spikes. A later bolt and nut has been added to the base to further stabilise the structure.

Comparable work in low relief can be seen on the embossed leather sides of the trunks or chests made of leather, wood and iron in Peru for the ‘galleon trade’ between South America, India and the Philippines.

The use of faces and heads in relief matches those used on early coquera boxes carved from wood in Peru and used to hold dried yerba mate leaves. It also has parallels with 17th century cabinets attributed to Portuguese Goa.

Similarities can also be seen in Spanish colonial silver chests at the time such as an early 17th century example in the Victoria & Albert Museum, plus another example.

The stand is in good condition. It is a rare survivor from 16th-17th century Colonial South America. It has excellent patina and sculptural presence.