A rare Spanish or Portuguese Colonial carved buffalo horn Corpus Christi on red tortoiseshell overlaid wood cross
A rare Spanish or Portuguese Colonial carved buffalo horn Corpus Christi on red tortoiseshell overlaid wood cross
18th CENTURY
Size: 38cm x 22.5cm (Cross)
18th CENTURY
Size: 38cm x 22.5cm (Cross)
This rare carved figure of Christ on the cross is made of water buffalo horn.
Domestic water buffalo can be induced to produce extra large and
straight horns by means of a notch cut into the side of the horn
together with castration at two years of age. Stylistically this fine carving is reminiscent of Goanese ivories, but
no horn carvings have been found to come from Goa. It is possible that
buffalo horn was traded and used experimentally by the craftsmen in
place of the usual ivory.
straight horns by means of a notch cut into the side of the horn
together with castration at two years of age. Stylistically this fine carving is reminiscent of Goanese ivories, but
no horn carvings have been found to come from Goa. It is possible that
buffalo horn was traded and used experimentally by the craftsmen in
place of the usual ivory.
A rare Spanish or Portuguese Colonial carved buffalo horn Corpus Christi on red tortoiseshell overlaid wood cross
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