Beautiful C. 18th Century Carved Santos in Red and Gold Polychrome cream pink copper Or working as a spy

Or working as a spy

a British-born painter

It was a working decoy

The letters on the far sides of each features grooves

dating it to the 1850s

Beautiful C. 18th Century Carved Santos in Red and Gold Polychrome cream pink copper Or working as a spyI'm not an expert on carved santos in terms of dating and identifying their specific place of origin, but I've looked at a lot, and believe this one likely dates to the 18th rather than the 19th century, and could be even a bit earlier than that. Losses to the arms as evident, but they don't bother me a bit what a marvelous, beatific face, and wonderful carving of the drapery, lending a great sense of movement, enhanced by the super rich red and gold