WOODEN IDOL OF ST. JOSEPH

This vintage, hand carved and beautiful Christian figure in dark grey and brown robes is believed to be St. Joseph of Bethlehem and the baby in his hand is infant Jesus. This wooden figure belongs to the Portuguese era and is from Kerala.  The wooden idol has been adorned with polychrome paint. 

Saint Joseph was married to Mary, mother of Jesus Christ and was Jesus’s legal father. Joseph is regarded as the patron saint of workers. Joseph is believed to have been a carpenter. 

After marrying Mary, Joseph found out that she was already pregnant and decided to divorce her quietly. An angel came to Joseph in his dreams and told him that the child that Mary carried was the son of God, conceived by the Holy Spirit. So Joseph  kept his wife.

This painted wooden idol from the Portuguese era is a rare collectible which is very difficult to come by.