Lot 165, Auction 4/20/2026: 17th C. Indo-Portuguese Goan Bone Christ Child

$1,040.00

In stock

South Asia, India, Goa, Indo-Portuguese, ca. 17th century CE. A finely carved Indo-Portuguese ungulate bone figure of the nude Christ Child, his softly rounded form rendered with naturalistic sensitivity, the head crowned with delicately incised and gilt hair that catches the light with quiet warmth. The child raises one finger to his mouth in a contemplative and arresting gesture, a pose that resonates beyond Christian iconography, echoing the angosht-gazidan motif found in Safavid and Mughal painting, where the act of biting or touching the finger conveys astonishment, emotional intensity, or a restrained plea for silence. This subtle cross-cultural echo speaks to the cosmopolitan environment of 17th century Goa, a vital Portuguese colony where European devotional imagery encountered and absorbed local and broader Asian artistic traditions. Size: 1.3″ L x 1.8″ W x 4.6″ H (3.3 cm x 4.6 cm x 11.7 cm)

The figure’s poised stance, gently flexed limbs, and introspective expression transform a familiar subject into something more enigmatic – at once sacred, human, and quietly theatrical, inviting reflection on devotion, emotion, and the layered visual language of a global early modern world.

Condition: Some natural splitting and fissures to bone, as well as light surface wear, commensurate with age. Otherwise, intact and excellent with good remaining detail and gilding. Rich patina to bone.

Provenance: private East Coast, USA collection; ex-private collection of Dr. Joseph Chess, Larchmont, New York, USA, acquired ca. 1950s

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all purchases.

We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.