A santo ('saint') is a religious statue in the Catholic traditions of Spain and the former Spanish Empire. They are usually made of wood or sometimes ivory and may be fitted with textile clothing. They depict the Virgin Mary, Jesus, saints, or angels. A santero is a craftsperson who makes the image. Some santos which have gained greater public devotion among the faithful have also merited papal approval through canonical coronations. Santos remain a living tradition of religious iconography and folk art in Mexico, the Philippines, Puerto Rico and some other Caribbean islands, South and Central America, and the Southwestern United States, especially New Mexico.
Regalia accessories for Our Lady, Queen of All Saints. Note the solid brass Aureola or halo. Spain, 2008.
Often called the "Grandest Marian icon" in the Philippines, the image of Our Lady of La Naval de Manila is an ivory statue, with gold bullion embroidered vestments and jeweled crowns among its regalia. Santo collectors also own medium-sized replicas of this image.
A Spanish colonial santo or bulto in a common style, with more caricature-like than realistic features; Harwood Museum, Taos, New Mexico
Preserved regalia of Our Lady of Manaoag, in the ecclesiastical museum of its basilica, Pangasinan, Philippines. Many santo collectors also seek accessories and vestments like these, and donate these to publicly venerated images.
Ivory is a hard, white material from the tusks and teeth of animals, that consists mainly of dentine, one of the physical structures of teeth and tusks. The chemical structure of the teeth and tusks of mammals is the same, regardless of the species of origin, but ivory contains structures of mineralised collagen. The trade in certain teeth and tusks other than elephant is well established and widespread; therefore, "ivory" can correctly be used to describe any mammalian teeth or tusks of commercial interest which are large enough to be carved or scrimshawed.
11th-century Italian carved elephant tusk, Louvre.
Cylindrical ivory casket, Siculo-Arabic, Hunt Museum.
A depiction of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Child Jesus crafted in elephant ivory
An ivory tabernacle featuring the Madonna of Caress, France
