Polychrome Altar Spirit

Hand-carved and vibrantly painted, this 19th-century figure of a mythical spirit was once placed upon a traditional altar table to pay tribute to ancestors past. The figure is carved with detailed robes, an elaborate hat, and long ribbon flowing over its shoulder. A panel in the figure's back was once able to be removed, to reveal a small scroll bearing a prayer to the deity. Though the object once held in the altar spirit's grip has been lost to time, the figure has kept its original pigmentation, now with captivating imperfections and texture.