20th Century Mexican Ex-Voto Reliquary
20th Century Mexican Ex-Voto Reliquary
This oblong wooden sphere—lacquered in a sultry, oxblood red—has been entirely armored in silver metal ex-votos, each one a tiny prayer hammered into form. Likely Mexican, the surface reads like a reliquary in motion: milagros shaped as cowboy hats and boots, hearts and hands, fish and frogs, ears of corn, and, presiding with quiet sovereignty, the Virgin of Guadalupe. Then, unexpectedly, the torch and crown of the Statue of Liberty flicker into view—a pilgrim’s dream rendered in tin.
Each charm is nailed into the painted ground, overlapping, glinting, telling stories of gratitude and longing. Protection for livestock. Safe passage across borders. Healing. Abundance. The sphere becomes a constellation of human hope, equal parts folk art and devotional archive.
Resting on a table, it feels talismanic—an object you circle slowly, discovering new symbols with each turn. Less sculpture than sanctuary, it hums with belief.
5.5 in. W x 5 in. D x 4.5 in. H