How were these wooden figures finished?

Many sculptures were coated in gesso and decorated with polychrome pigments, paint, or gold leaf to enhance their visual impact. Surfaces often show centuries of wear, revealing the underlying wood where the original paint has naturally thinned.

How do I date a carving?

Dating relies on tool marks, wood shrinkage, style of drapery, and the composition of underlying gesso and pigment layers. Earlier seventeenth-century pieces generally show heavier tool work and simpler construction compared to later nineteenth-century examples.

Where were these pieces displayed?

Carvings were housed in domestic home altars, village churches, or carried through streets during religious processions. Smaller devotional objects were also kept in private rooms or carried in pockets for daily prayer.

How do I care for antique wood carvings?

Keep carvings away from direct sunlight and sudden changes in room temperature to prevent the wood from cracking. Dust gently with a dry cloth and avoid applying modern polishes that can damage historic polychrome surfaces.