Dimensions: Height 140 cm Wide 65 cm Depth 32 cm
Weight: Approx. 28 Kilograms
Carved in the round from wood and richly decorated with gilding and polychrome pigments, the angel is shown standing on a double lotus pedestal mounted on a tiered base. The figure displays a robust form, with outstretched wings detailed with finely incised feather patterns, painted red on the reverse. The angel is adorned with elaborate jewellery, including necklaces, armlets, and a girdle of beads, and wears a garland draped between her hands. Her expressive face, framed by curling hair tied in a bun, is highlighted with red lips, wide eyes, and a vermilion bindi on the forehead.
This figure reflects the syncretic artistic traditions of colonial Goa in the 19th century, where European Catholic imagery was reinterpreted through local Indian carving styles. The sensual modeling of the body, jewellery, and lotus pedestal derive from Hindu temple sculpture, while the wings and Christian iconography are adapted from Western prototypes. Figures of this kind were often produced for churches, convents, or elite households, where they served both devotional and decorative purposes.
Sold for €5,788