The Nativity

This circular pierced ivory relief representing The Nativity, is made in about 1700. Although the workmanship is not of high quality, the stylistic features of the relief suggest it is likely to be Spanish. It may have once been affixed to a box, or a house-altar.

Ivory was popular as a material for religious subjects, especially during the 17th and 18th centuries. Some ivories were carved in Spain, although little is known about the artists or their centres of activity. Spanish and Portuguese patrons imported ivories carved with Christian imagery from their territories overseas, such as the Philippines, Mexico and Goa.