Featured Carved polychrome Madonna-opinions on age ?

Just saw this in a shop yesterday, it's about 18 inches tall and appears to be painted gesso over wood w/ repairs. Looks to have some years on it but you never know.Any ideas as to true age and whether from Europe or the Americas-Thanks All !

 

Stylewise she could be either, a folk madonna. If European, she is more likely to be from southern Europe.

 

Try looking at Spanish colonial "Santos" for comparisons.

 

buy the basket !!!!!!!!

 

its pretty damn cool looking.......but i don't believe that nose job or much of the other damage

 

Praying it's not bashed to bits on the backside Komo ! With the long cedar interlaced banding along w/ the figural geometry, can't find much else like it (except Cisco's) that pops up-def seems a unique piece.
PS-Much thanks for the counsel on the Folk Madonna/Santos too. Fair amount of older-looking ones on Ebay,churches & parishioners kept 'em perhaps ?

 

A lot of European ones were stolen from chapels and churches. Most chapels used to be open daily for the faithful, but not for looters. Nowadays many faithful will just have to pray and light their candles at home, because most churches and chapels are locked.

There is a small chapel in a nearby village, very idyllic on a small hill surrounded by trees. The chapel is devoted to the local guild of St John the Baptist, and it had a Medieval woodcarving of the head of St John. When it was stolen in the 1970s, the people were heartbroken (as was I, I love the village and the chapel). They collected funds to have a replica made. After a few months the wrought iron fence in the chapel was broken and even the replica was stolen.

 

You are 1000% right AJ,when we were younger most US churches were open 7 days week ! I'm not sure if they were open 24/7-but anytime of the day you could walk in and relax,meditate.
I remember thinking as a kid, if I ever ran away from home-you could always sleep in a church (never did).
I think they've also been looting graveyards for a while too.

 

I don't think it's that old and the damage appears deliberate. Also, she doesn't have a child so I don't think it's a Madonna. I'd call it a praying Saint. The features almost appear Asian so I'm thinking it was made for the tourist market.

 

The most famous Madonnas in the world don't have a child on their arm.

Lourdes:



Fátima:



Guadelupe (Mexico, not Spain):

 

Good point AJ- She comes in many forms.
We have so little hands-on access to truly old pieces, it's interesting to actually handle what might have some antiquity.
That's one great perk of living in a European capitol, but hey-we love the mountains and sea !

 

You live in a beautiful part of the world, but Europe has mountains and sea as well.