PUERTO RICO Vintage Collection of 42 Hand Carved Wood "Santos De Palo"
A vintage collection of 42 Puerto Rico carved santos.
This is a very nice group of forty-two vintage Puerto Rico Santos carved in fine wood and hand decorated with colored oil paintings. The carvings are from mixed towns in Puerto Rico and several artists. They are totally hand made and hand painted and they represents different figures of the Spanish and Puerto Rico tradition of religious imaginary and folk art. These kinds of sculptural figures are from the local folklore, art & craft and actually 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.
Country: Mixed towns, Puerto Rico.
Period: Vintage, 1980's, 1990's
Thematic: Folklore, art & crafts, various.
Amount: 42 individual pieces.
Materials: Hand carved wood and hand-paint.
Weight: All included about 25 pounds, (11.35 Kg.).
Measurements: Average H. 178 mm by L. 64 mm by D 54 mm, (7 x 2.5 x 2.1 Inches).
Signatures: Each one is signed under the base, with the artist’s name, the town and the year.
Condition: The overall condition of these 42 Puerto Rico santo are 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: D032126METS/.7634
