PUERTO RICO Antonio Aviles Carved Wood "Santos De Palo" of The Three Kings
A Puerto Rico vintage carved santo of Three Kings.
This is a vintage Puerto Rico santo carved in fine wood and hand decorated with colored oil paintings. The carving represents the Spanish and Puerto Rico tradition of the “The Three Kings” in horses. These kinds of figures are from the local folklore, art & craft and are highly collectable.
Santos de Palo
Puerto Rican Santos de Palo are hand-carved wooden figures of saints and religious icons, representing a 400-plus-year tradition of folk art. Originating in the 16th century due to a shortage of priests and church art in rural areas, these figures allowed locals to worship at home. They symbolize Puerto Rican identity, blending Spanish, African, and Taino influences. The tradition began in the 1500s when Spanish missionaries introduced religious imagery, and rural residents, lacking formal churches, began creating their own, "Santos de Palo": The name means "saints of wood," as they were traditionally carved from local cedar or other woods by self-taught artisans known as Santeros. Early 16th-century figures were more detailed, but by the 1750s, a distinct Puerto Rican style emerged-simpler, stylized, and sometimes featuring exaggerated anatomy. These statues were central to home altars, serving as intermediaries for prayer, particularly for protection or healing. Popular figures include the Three Kings (riding horses instead of camels), the Virgin of Montserrat, and Santiago. The 1898 U.S. annexation introduced Protestantism, leading to the destruction of some, while modernization replaced many wooden carvings with plastic. While traditional production slowed by the 1960s, it has seen a resurgence and is celebrated in museums today.
The Three Kings
The Three Kings, or Magi, were mysterious, learned travelers from the East who followed a star to Bethlehem to worship the newborn Jesus, as told in Matthew 2:1-12. Although biblical tradition doesn't call them kings or list their names, they are revered as Gaspar (frankincense), Melchior (gold), and Balthasar (myrrh), symbolizing Jesus's royalty, divinity, and sacrifice.
Country: Orocovis Puerto Rico.
Period: Vintage, 1980's.
Thematic: Folklore, art & crafts, Three Kings.
Materials: Carved wood and color paint.
Weight: About 3 pounds, (1.36 Kg.).
Measurements: H. 165 mm by L. 349 mm by D 108 mm, (6.5 x 13.75 x 4.25 Inches).
Signatures: Signed under the base with the artist’s name, town and year as follows: "ANTONIO AVILES OROCOVIS PUERTO RICO 1990 TRES REYES MAGOS".
Condition: The overall condition of this Puerto Rico santo is excellent. Beside the little normal wear, there is no damage and all parts are secured in their settings. This piece was carefully inspected to guarantee the condition and authenticity.
INVENTORY REF: D032126MAEJ/.9912
