Briscada Figure

Sculpture

-

Frances M. Maguire Art Museum

Briscada Figure, 18th c. Peru. Figure of one of the three kings from a Nativity crèche.

Briscada Figure, 18th c. Peru. Figure of one of the three kings from a Nativity crèche.

Name/Title

Briscada Figure

Entry/Object ID

2005.2.29

Description

18th-c. Peruvian Briscada figure made of carved, polychromed, and gilded wood and dressed in silk fabric embroidered with metallic threads. This figure is one of the three kings from a Nativity crèche.

Artwork Details

Medium

Polychrome, Gilded Wood, Silk

Made/Created

Time Period

18th Century

Dimensions

Height

3-1/2 in

Interpretative Labels

Label Type

Credit Line

Label

Gift of Joseph and Ruth Peters

Label

This figure portrays one of the Three Kings, also called the Three Wisemen or Three Magi, and is part of the Nativity scene from the Life of Christ. In the Bible, three Kings visit Jesus after his birth bearing gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. The figure is made of painted wood and dressed in silk fabric embroidered with metallic threads. Briscada refers to the threads of gold and silver that adorn the figure. This object would have been part of a larger collection of biblical figurines that would have been worshiped during Christmas. La figura representa a uno de los Tres Reyes, también llamados los Tres Sabios o los Tres Magos, y se asocia con una de las escenas de la vida de Jesús, específicamente la Natividad. En la Biblia los Tres Reyes visitan a Jesús recién nacido y le llevan oro, incienso y mirra. La talla es de madera policromada y lleva un vestido de seda bordado con hilos de oro y plata (briscado). El objeto pudo haber formado parte de una composición mayor de figuritas bíblicas, y usarse como objeto de devoción durante la Navidad.