17th century Goa ceiling lamp.

17th century Goa plafond.
"Virgin with donors".
Relief carved in tropical iroko wood.
It shows wear and faults.
Measurements: 20,5 x 12,5 x 3 cm.

The 17th century, entitled "Virgin with donors", is a work of sacred art made in relief carved on tropical iroko wood, a noble and resistant material, characteristic of tropical regions, with a rich grain that adds depth and warmth to the finish.

A curious and singular devotional piece. It is a relief carved in tropical wood representing the Virgin with her arms outstretched, sheltering two donors under her mantle. Her frontal and majestic posture is reinforced by the expansive and welcoming gesture. The donors must allude to prominent members of Portuguese colonial society in Goa, who commissioned the piece. The donors are depicted in smaller proportions, as was typical in religious iconography of medieval tradition (despite belonging to the Baroque), thus emphasizing the preeminence of the central figure. Their clothing reflects European influences, with meticulous details that emphasize the wealth and social rank of the portrayed. In Goa, the Portuguese colony in India, a rich cultural syncretism developed between indigenous forms of wood carving and Christian iconographic motifs. This plafon would probably have been a piece intended to decorate an altar or a private chapel, showing the devotion of the donors and at the same time serving as an act of religious patronage.