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Three beautiful and finely-carved vintage wood crosses by New Mexico Santero, George T. Lopez, Cordova, NM, c. 1950’s-60’s
This lovely group of wooden crosses was very finely hand crafted by the world-renowned Cordova, New Mexico Santero and woodcarver, George T. Lopez (1900-1986), one of the great masters of the Santero’s art and heir to a distinguished legacy of Cordova, New Mexico Santeros and woodcarvers begun by his distinguished artist Father, Jose Dolores Lopez (1868-1937). For his extraordinary career and artistic accomplishments, George Lopez was officially honored as a major New Mexican artistic legend and a designated national American treasure, the esteemed and deserving recipient in 1980
of the National Endowment for the Arts National Heritage fellowship.
George Lopez, like his Father, was a member of the Hermandad or Penitenete Brotherhood, a lay organization of true believers of the Catholic faith who organize themselves in local village “Moradas” or meeting houses to worship and observe the faith. They practice various forms of Penitence such as abstinence and scourging. Strength and intensity
of George Lopez’s religious belief and faith are essential to becoming a good Santero and these qualities fully inform Lopez’s wood carving work, particularly that of religious subjects such as these crosses, and imbues his pieces with a remarkable degree of devotion, purity, intensity and spirituality which is quite tangible.
At upper left, Jose Dolores Lopez, c. 1930. At upper right, San Antonio de Padua in Cordova, NM, the Lopez family's village church. At lower left, George T. Lopez with one of his carvings, Cordova, NM. At lower right, an original historic photo of George T. Lopez, c. 1950, possibly by T. Harmon Parkhurst, Santa Fe.
Upper left photo source and © National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C. Upper right photo source and © Joe Vogan Photography. Lower left photo by T. Harmon Parkhurst, Santa Fe.
Lower left photo source and © National Endowment for the Arts. Lower right photo source and © Fine Arts of the Southwest, Inc.
"It's part of my life, and part of my name ...
I'm a sixth-generation santero.”
-George T. Lopez
Above center, The Penitente Morada in Abiquiu, NM with three wooden crosses in front symbolizing "La Santisima Trinidada" or "The Holy Trinity".
Above left and right, New Mexico carved and painted wooden retablos of "La Santisima Trinidada" or "The Holy Trinity" by Pedro Antonio Fresquis, c. 1800.
Center photo source and © afar. Left and right photo source and © "A Land So Remote", Volume One, by Larry Frank, Red Crane Books, Santa Fe, NM, 2000, Figs. 116/117.
Cross Number One
Height: 15 1/2"
Width: 9"
Thickness: 1/2" to 3/4"
Condition: Excellent Original
Signautre: George Lopez, Cordova N.M. in blue ballpoint pen,
original price of $37.00 in pencil.
Price $950
Cross Number Two
Height: 9"
Width: 5 1/4"
Thickness: 1/2"
Condition: Excellent Original
Signautre: George T. Lopez in pencil, "G.L." in black ink,
original price of $8.00 in pencil.
Price $495
Cross Number Three
Height: 8"
Width: 4 3/4"
Thickness: 1/2"
Condition: Excellent Original
Signautre: George Lopez, Cordova N.M. in blue ballpoint pen,
original price of $15.00 in pencil.
Price $495
Taken together, these three crosses are representative of the divine Catholic conception of the “Santissima Trinidada” or “Holy Trinity”, as seen above; God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ) and the Holy Ghost or Holy Spirit.
The three crosses are all made of northern New Mexico aspen wood, the primary material usually used by Lopez in his wood carvings. And, as can be easily seen here, the crosses are also closely related to each other terms of the similarity of their carving and overall layout and visual presentation with their central rosettes and chip carved designs. All three crosses have original hand-cut soft leather hanging loops.
These three crosses are beautiful and historic examples of the traditional religious village arts of Northern New Mexico, a centuries old tradition of devotion, craftsmanship, beauty and enduring faith. While they all look wonderful and completely appropriate together, they can be purchased individually, if desired, or all three can be purchased together with a special group price. Additional details follow below:
