I ordered this via Amazon on a lark since it was reasonably priced at $4.50. It turned out to be one of the best written catalogs concerning the history, trade of ivory in the Philippines and its uses as ecclesiastical artifacts.
Images of Faith was published by the Pacific Asia Museum last 1990. Though simple in design, the articles written by Regalado Trota Jose is so rich and precise that one could mine a lot of information from it. From the sources of the ivory, the reason why most of the pieces can be found outside the Philippines, the Chinese features in the sculptures to the last ateliers of the previous century, Mr. Jose elaborated on such interesting aspects that after reading his paper, one would have gained an encompassing sense of knowledge on the subject.
The author also gave lots of time on the identification on the different saint types from the different manifestations of the Virgin, to the positions of the Baby Jesus to the different saints of the Holy orders. He made sure to include each attribute so to help ease in the identification of a particular saint. Such meticulousness in his descriptions without deteriorating into pedantry is really really commendable. Actually, after going over his research, you might not care anymore about the pictures.
So is it worth getting if you're into santo collecting? Yes!
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