Phillipines, ca. 19th century CE. A beautifully hand carved wooden sculpture depicting Saint Joseph tenderly holding the infant Jesus in his left hand, while his right hand is carved with a grip, likely intended to hold his attribute of a blooming staff or a lily. The infant Jesus is crowned and holding an orb representing his universal dominion in his left hand and pointing upward toward the heavenly realm with his left index finger. The pair are magnificently carved from a single piece of wood by a highly skilled artisan. A large and breathtaking carved rendition of Joseph and Jesus upon a pedestal, likely intended to adorn the interior of a church. A wondrous religious statue of rich symbolism and remarkable artistry and technique. Size: 36"H (91.4 cm) x 15-1/2"W (39.4 cm).

The cult of Joseph originated during the time of Luther when the Catholic Church was seeking out new heroes to meet the needs of the Counter Reformation. Prior to this time, Joseph was somewhat ignored. The Carmelite Order, under the direction of Saint Theresa, rejuvenated the image of Saint Joseph. Instead of being portrayed as an elderly man who watched over Mary, he grew to be depicted as a virile man in the prime of his life, full of youth and strength, yet portrayed as a gentle man of tenderness as we see in this example.

Provenance: Ex-private Ramon Kelley collection, Denver, CO, acquired.

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#108645

Intact. A few nicks and stable cracks and wear as shown, with a bit of loss to Christ child's left hand and the a small area of Joseph's robe, but overall very good to excellent.