South America, Peru, ca. early 20th century CE. A Peruvian retablo is essentially a retablo set within a shadow box like a nicho - a beautiful blending of these two forms. Oftentimes, as we see in this example, it is akin to a three-dimensional painting of a scene comprised of various figures in an intricately depicted environment. The box forms a miniature shrine with opening doors and a gable above the opening. Both the doors, front archway, and gable are covered with ornate, polychrome, floral and geometric decoration. Within the box, the artisan sculpted a figure, perhaps representing a saint or leader, riding a white horse with five camelid figures below and an abstract haloed figure, most likely representing the Virgin Mary to the upper right, all comprised of a mixture of plaster and cooked potato that has been hand modeled and painted, as is the Peruvian custom. This example also features a drawer underneath the scene, presumably used to hold offerings. A beautiful and unusual form of Peruvian folk art! Size: 16" wide including open doors x 11-1/2" x x 3-1/2" (40.6 x 29.2 x 8.9 cm)

Provenance: Ex-Historia Antiques, James Caswell, Santa Monica, CA

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#109684

Intact with expected surface wear as shown. Expected wear to plaster/potato sculpture with some surface hairline fissures as shown. Remains of fabric once covering the exterior of box as shown. Overall, wonderful example of this unusual folk art form!