Isabelo L Tampinco. “ Girl with four braids.”

Isabelo L Tampinco. “ Girl with four braids.”….[ Original title unknown.]

Sculpture by Isabelo L Tampinco. [ 1850 – 1933.]

cast marble.

Sculpture. 42cm high x 19cm wide x 14cm deep.

Base. 15cm square x 6cm high.

Signed on the back “ I.L.T. - 1885 Manila.

Description

Isabelo Tampincos handling of this delicate sculpture is masterful.

This beautiful little girl sits with her head bowed forward. She has a very serene look of one who has been sitting patiently as her mother has plated her hair.

She is still young with a round baby face.

Tampinco has beautifully sculptured the lips, nose, eyes and eye brows, her eyes have the look of tranquility in them.

 Both ears are seen and delicately carved.

The hair is the most ornate part of the sculpture, there are four braids. The hair is brushed to the front and to the back and to the front on both sides, then tied off with a band and then braided and pulled to the center top of her head, where they are formed into a bun and tied off with another band.

The front braid and the two side braids are very clearly plated and beautifully carved.

The back braid, is not as ornately carved and it seems that the same care of plating the hair was not taken here as with the other three braids. This can be seen clearly as there is no tie band at the back like the other three braids, which is very interesting.

 Two parts in the hair can be seen clearly on both sides of the head, but there is no part at the back.

 The top of the chest of the girl is beautifully formed and the sculpture ends on the shoulders, centre chest and top of the back.

The bust sits on its own base, which adds to the drama of the piece.

The sculpture is in very good condition, no cracks or chips can be seen. Under the bust is also smooth with no blemishes.

The signature is clearly seen on the back of the sculpture, signed:- I L T      [initials].

                                                                                                    1885 Manila

 The sculpture at the time of writing is 130 years old.

There are no distinguishing marks.

Comment.

This is a very early Tampinco sculpture executed with a sensitivity for beautiful young girl.

Maybe he watched a child getting her hair braided by her mother and saw the tender love of the mother and the patience of the child.

The look on the face of the child is that contentment.

This is a beautiful, charming sculpture by Tampinco.

Written by,

Mark E Shellshear.

Art consultant