A Spanish-colonial Filipino wood, ivory, human hair and textile sculpture of the Virgin trampling the snake
The Philippines, probably Manilla, 19th century
H. 32.7 cm
The face and hands of the Virgin are beautifully carved. The body consists of a simple wooden frame dressed in textile, and on her head, she has real human hair. She is standing on a blue and gilt base with a snake holding an apple in its mouth. In Christianity, this statue symbolises the victory of the Virgin, the chaste mother of Jesus, over sin and death brought into the world by Eva, who fell for the devilish temptations of sex and knowledge.
H. 32.7 cm
The face and hands of the Virgin are beautifully carved. The body consists of a simple wooden frame dressed in textile, and on her head, she has real human hair. She is standing on a blue and gilt base with a snake holding an apple in its mouth. In Christianity, this statue symbolises the victory of the Virgin, the chaste mother of Jesus, over sin and death brought into the world by Eva, who fell for the devilish temptations of sex and knowledge.
Part of the Indonesian Archipelago collection.
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Two Balinese polychrome nangka wood sculptures depicting Sugriwa and Subali, the red monkey twins
These two winged sculptures represent the red monkey twins Sugriwa and Subali as they are called in Bali. Sugriwa and Subali are central characters in the Hindu epic ‘Ramayana’, particularly in the versions prevalent in Indonesian culture, such as in Balinese Hinduism. They are twin monkey kings of Kishkindha and brothers who become rivals. However, despite being identical twins, they had different fathers; Sugriwa’s father was Surya, the sun god, and Subali’s father was Indra, the king of gods.