Antique Vietnamese Catholic Male Saint Figure

This old authentic vintage male saint figure was, as all such figures originally acquired by an individual for inclusion in his home’s private shrine in Viet Nam. We do not know the identity of the saint this figure represents. In almost every part of Asia it is customary for families to have a religious shrine in or right outside of their house. Since most people in Asia are Buddhist or some other non-christian religion, most shrines are Buddhist. However, Catholics have similar corresponding shrines. If a family is relatively poor their shrine - be it Buddhist or Catholic - will be a small corner of a room in their house. The wealthiest people have entire rooms devoted exclusively to their shrines in which case for Buddhists it’s a temple in their house; for Catholics it’s a chapel. Most people associate Catholicism in Viet Nam with the French colonial period, which is very much the case. However, Jesuits from all over Europe brought Catholicism to Asia 500 years before that. Th