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BONE-HEAD SANTO NINO with Wooden Body |
There was a time that Intramuros had a small antique shop section, thanks to
the development of a heritage district that started in the early 1980s. The
district included the restored Casa Manila, a 19th century
house at the Plaza San Luis Complex, along Gen. Luna St. The
complex attracted different establishments like restaurants, souvenir shops,
arts and antique shops.
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The Nino, as found, Galeria Andrea, ca. 1998 |
One of
the popular shops located here was Galeria Andrea, owned by Pampanga congresswoman
Andrea Domingo, who would later become Immigration commissioner and
PAGCOR chairman. She turned her antique collecting hobby into a modest
business in Intramuros, and it was in her shop that I found this small, but lovely
Sto. Niño of wood and bone, sometime in 1998.
No more
than 10 inches tall, including the base, the santo is depicted in a royal
French costume, reminiscent of the outfit worn by King Louis XV. The Sto.
Niño of Malolos wears a similarly-inspired outfit. Obviously, the image was
repainted in garish white, blue and dark brown. Random painted flourishes decorate
his tunic, highlighted by a body chain over the torso.
But what
drew me to the santo was the face, which, initially I thought to be
ivory as it was so white. It was the only material made of bone—everything else,
including the hand holding a small orb (one hand is missing)--were made of
wood.
I had to
take a second and third look to see if it was really made from bone, but so
well done—from the neck folds, define aquiline nose, to the wisp of his smile, and his side-glancing
glass eyes—all contributing to its pleasing, amiable expression.
It makes
one think that the head deserves a better body, maybe like those manikin-types,
reserved for richly-dressed ivory santos. But this Niño has its
own distinct appeal, and the wooden body itself is well-carved, and well-proportioned.
Note, for example, the careful facial carving, the symmetrical folds of the cape, and the stance of the
booted legs, with one knee slightly bent.
The shallow
relief carving of the peaña (base) is a bit difficult to figure out; vaguely,
I could make out a heart with a cross on top, entwined with thorny vines. The
image was meant to wear a wig, and perhaps, a crown. De bulto images with
wigs are more common for female saints, making this Niño a scarce find.
Antique
bone santos have always played second fiddle to ivory santos, which are more
prized and therefore, more expensive. But to me, my bone Sto. Niño find
evokes the same feelings of appreciation and nostalgia for our religious folk
art as when I see ivory santos--so in that sense, this Niño is just as
precious and cherished for keeps!
POSTCRIPT:
MRS. ANDREA DOMINGO opened GALERIA ARTS & ANTIQUES in LRI Plaza, Jupiter St., in Makati , and she kept the business for 26 years. Today, her remaining collection are housed in he home city museum in San Fernando, Pampanga called MUSEUM OF PHILIPPINE ARTS AND CULTURE (MOPAC). One gallery is dedicated to her incredible santo collection: