Baby Jesus On The Globe – Indo-portuguese Ivory Sculpture – 18th Century – Cites

Baby Jesus on the Globe – Indo-Portuguese ivory sculpture – 18th century – CITES

A rare religious sculpture depicting the Baby Jesus standing on the globe, an 18th-century Indo-Portuguese work.

Description

The Child Jesus, carved from ivory, is depicted nude, standing in a pose of blessing or majesty.
His face with its gentle features, finely incised hair, and characteristic proportions are in keeping with the tradition of Christian ivory carvings produced in territories under Portuguese influence.

It rests on a globe that was originally polychromed, which in turn is supported by a large carved, openwork, and polychromed wooden base featuring a dynamic floral design. The ensemble retains a beautiful antique patina as well as significant traces of its original polychromy, particularly visible on the globe and the pedestal.

The iconography of the Infant Jesus on the globe expresses Christ’s universal sovereignty and is a theme particularly prominent in Indo-Portuguese Christian art.

Indo-Portuguese, 18th century.
Ivory, carved and polychrome wood.

Condition:

Original condition with slight wear and losses of polychromy, minor imperfections, and visible historical restorations.
Patina and signs of use consistent with the object’s age. See detailed photographs.

The work is accompanied by its CITES certificate, No. IT/CE/2024/BG/00862, issued in Bergamo on December 12, 2024, which identifies the species as Elephantidae spp. and explicitly describes the object as an “ivory sculpture on a wooden base depicting the Infant Jesus on the globe, Indo-Portuguese craftsmanship, 18th century.”

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