# Rare 18thC Antique European Santos Cage Doll - 36" Carved St. Anthony / Monk

## Item Specifics
* **Type:** Santos Cage Doll (Maniquí de Vestir)
* **Age:** 18th Century (1700s)
* **Subject:** Male Saint / Monk (Vaguely resembles St. Anthony)
* **Features:** Inset Glass Eyes, Carved Hair (No Wig Grooves)
* **Origin:** European (Likely Spain, Italy, or France)
* **Material:** Heavy Dark Wood, Gesso, Polychrome Paint
* **Height:** 36 Inches (Three Feet)
* **Condition:** Antique / For Restoration (Missing arms)

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## Full Description

### Overview
Up for auction is a magnificent and rare **18th-century European Male Santos Cage Doll**, standing an impressive **36 inches tall**. This heavy, substantial three-foot figure represents a monk or saint, bearing a strong visual resemblance to **St. Anthony**. Designed originally as a *maniquí de vestir* (dressing mannequin) for a church altarpiece or religious processions, this piece showcases exceptional early European devotional craftsmanship.

### Key Details & Craftsmanship
* **Soulful Inset Glass Eyes:** The face features beautiful, early inset glass domes placed directly over the painted wood eyes. This technique gives the saint a remarkably lifelike, soulful, and contemplative gaze.
* **Carved Hair & Flesh Tones:** The head is fully carved with a textured, upside-down bowl-shaped hairstyle painted in a rich brown. Notably, there are no grooves for a wig, confirming the hair was meant to be displayed as carved. The face and chest retain their original flesh-toned polychrome paint layered over gesso.
* **Heavy Dark Wood Construction:** Unlike lighter reproductions, the entire piece is carved from a dense, heavy dark wood. The torso and lower open-slatted cage are solidly constructed, showcasing the hand-hewn tool marks expected of authentic 1700s artistry.
* **Markings:** Unmarked, as is typical for authentic ecclesiastical pieces of this era which were created anonymously for religious devotion.

### Condition Note (As-Is / Restoration Opportunity)
This 250+ year-old artifact is in **as-is antique condition**. Both articulated arms are missing. The surface exhibits a true, venerable patina with expected craquelure, paint chipping, and minor gesso loss that highlights its centuries of history. The heavy dark wood cage and main torso remain structurally stable and solid.

This is a premier acquisition piece for serious collectors of Spanish Colonial artifacts, early European folk art, and religious antiquities. It serves beautifully as a standalone sculpture or as a candidate for professional restoration.

*Please review all high-resolution photographs carefully to evaluate the condition, patina, and historical wear prior to bidding.*

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## Shipping & Handling
* **Packaging:** Due to its 36-inch size, weight, and fragility, this item will be professionally packed using heavy-duty materials and double-boxing.
* **Insurance:** Fully insured shipping with signature confirmation is required.
* **International Buyers:** Shipping is available globally via eBay's International Shipping program.