San Antonio Bulto

An absolutely glorious Spanish Colonial carving of San Antonio, from a collection once owned by Elmer Shupe of Taos; one of the saint’s hands holds a cross, the other should have a Christ Child holding an orb (currently undergoing restoration). The glass eyes are indicative of carvings from Mexico in the early 19th century, if not earlier. The hands of San Antonio and the Christ Child, carved by an as yet unidentified 19th century Northern New Mexico santero, possibly the Arroyo Hondo Santero, (active 1830 - 1840), were added to the sculpture at a later date than the original. Wood, paint and glass, 17 ½ inches tall, 8 inches wide, standing upon a beveled wooden base 8 x 7 x ¾ inches.