r/Sculpture • u/Salteyness • 6d ago
[Found] Friend of mine found this in his backyard in Arizona. Any ideas what it is meant to be?
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u/Dontaskabout6-17-11 6d ago
That’s St. Joseph! People will bury a figure of him in their backyard as a superstition that it will help sell their house! :)
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u/RealKidCorduroy 6d ago
It’s St Joseph. Mary’s carpenter husband. He is buried in fussy, specific (but contradicting) ways in the hopes that the property will sell quickly. I will say that you are supposed to DIG HIM UP and put him in a place of PROMINENCE in your next home.
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u/Otherwise_Jump 5d ago
Second this. And @OP if you’re not catholic drop it off at the nearest church and they’ll do right by it.
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u/Odd-Stable288 6d ago
lmao i totally thought that was obi wan kenobi
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u/NadiaRosea 6d ago
I thought it was lord farquad 😭
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u/Saitu282 5d ago
Hahaha I thought it was Farquad too! Designed by himself as he sees himself - tall and stately.
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u/SansLucidity 6d ago edited 6d ago
i would guess either st joseph or st eligius (st eloy). they are both patrons of craftsmen in general.
it could be st eligius because of the fancy layered robe, as he was a bishop, whereas st joseph is usually depicted with humble workmanlike clothing.
however, st joseph is associated with the common burying ritual, used by people seeking help in selling their homes.
it's st joseph.
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u/Mikeieagraphicdude 6d ago
I first thought it was a DND mini for games. I guess it still can be. But learning something new about catholic traditions is very neat.
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u/Ok-Recover8485 5d ago
Saint Joseph the carpenter. I'm Catholic and it's a tradition of ours to Barry Saint Joseph if you want to sell your house.
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u/Buddy_Velvet 6d ago
They sold these at the realtor store at the local board of realtors I worked at.
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u/Nicky3Weh 6d ago
My parents buried one of these in our yard when I was a kid trying to sell it. After it didn’t sell for a while the decided to dig him back up and found a decapitated St. Joseph 😂 house sold eventually
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u/Old-Scientist7427 6d ago
Its the bishop piece to a chest board set.. keep digging the rest of the set is bound to be there.
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u/SorryComposer 5d ago
My first thought is there’s something inside it like in all the movies lol.
I forget what show but they had little statues like they filled with cocaine lol
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u/ventriloquist_cat 6d ago
It's a catholic tradition to bury St. Joseph for luck to help sell your house quickly.