Ivory Crucifix with Silver Cross
Ivory Crucifix with Silver Cross
19th Century
Ivory, Kamagong and Silver
H:37” x L:54” x W:26 1/2 (94 cm x 137 cm x 67 cm)
Estimate: P 120,000
Lot 35 of the Leon Gallery Auction on 7 February 2015. See www.leon-gallery.com for more information.
This ivory crucifix is unusual, because seldom does one see the cross and base overlaid with silver. The ivory corpus is of the mid-19th century and has typical Philippine stance. It has a beautifully carved torso with extremely fine detailed hair. The entire face of the narrow kamagong cross is appliqued with an embossed and chased sheet of silver worked with an openwork design of interlacing vines. The extremely large cantoneras or terminals that decorate the ends of the cross are embossed with an elaborate design of C-scrolls, leaves and flowers and end in clam shells that are reminiscent of processional crosses or ciriales of the late 19th century. A large oval sunburst in silver attached to the arms of the cross serves as a backdrop of the corpus.
The base of the cross is appliqued in front and at the sides with small silver plaques embossed and chased with scenes of the Stations of the Cross on cartouches surrounded by rays. These plaques of silver are applied to follow the contour of the kamagong base, proof that the whole thing was Philippine-made. The execution of the human figures show great skill and are definitely the work of a master numismatist. Locally, the only one capable of making such a piece was the Zamora atelier which was active during the last quarter of the 19th century until the early 20th century.
Ivory Crucifix with Silver Cross
Ivory Crucifix with Silver Cross
19th Century
Ivory, Kamagong and Silver
H:37” x L:54” x W:26 1/2 (94 cm x 137 cm x 67 cm)
Estimate: P 120,000
Lot 35 of the Leon Gallery Auction on 7 February 2015. See www.leon-gallery.com for more information.
This ivory crucifix is unusual, because seldom does one see the cross and base overlaid with silver. The ivory corpus is of the mid-19th century and has typical Philippine stance. It has a beautifully carved torso with extremely fine detailed hair. The entire face of the narrow kamagong cross is appliqued with an embossed and chased sheet of silver worked with an openwork design of interlacing vines. The extremely large cantoneras or terminals that decorate the ends of the cross are embossed with an elaborate design of C-scrolls, leaves and flowers and end in clam shells that are reminiscent of processional crosses or ciriales of the late 19th century. A large oval sunburst in silver attached to the arms of the cross serves as a backdrop of the corpus.
The base of the cross is appliqued in front and at the sides with small silver plaques embossed and chased with scenes of the Stations of the Cross on cartouches surrounded by rays. These plaques of silver are applied to follow the contour of the kamagong base, proof that the whole thing was Philippine-made. The execution of the human figures show great skill and are definitely the work of a master numismatist. Locally, the only one capable of making such a piece was the Zamora atelier which was active during the last quarter of the 19th century until the early 20th century.