Plaque of Child Christ as the Navigator

Title

Year/Period

17th century

Region

Manila or Macao

Object Type

devotional plaques, reliefs (sculptures)

Material

ivory (material), wood (plant material)

Technique

sculpting, woodworking

Dimension

Object size: 12 x 8 x 2 cm,
Frame size: 15 x 11 x 2 cm

Accession No.

2015-00220

Collection of

Asian Civilisations Museum

On this plaque, Christ as a child is portrayed in his role as Mariner on the Ship of Salvation. This image invokes Christ as a protector of seafarers and navigators. He is surrounded by many symbols relating to his later life. This depiction on ivory is likely based on an Italian print. It is difficult to determine the origin of this plaque. Ivory was a popular medium, and many Chinese ivory carvers were known to have travelled widely and worked in various important port cities of the period.