Vintage artifact; perhaps intended for tourist trade. General: 9″ in height. Carved wood, molded cherubs on board, polychrome. Central America. Condition: One cherub has damage to his face. Paint chipping and scrapes. “Carmo” and “30” are written on the wood bottom. I assume this indicates a stall owner and the price. Comments: There is an interesting sub-group of collectors that specialize in religious artifacts meant for the tourist trade. Whatever the culture, there can be no more important art than that used as an aid for communicating with the divine. I have always found devotional artifacts fascinating to collect; there is no better way to connect with a past culture than through the objects that were important to it. Collecting santos figures is particularly gratifying. The subject, the style and the methods of production combine to tell the tale of what the individuals in that culture valued. ____________ I have been collecting artifacts and religious objects for many years, specializing in Asian and European vintage carvings. Don’t hesitate to ask about other stock that I might have that is not listed here. Website: http://sirraffles.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SirRafflesArt