Flemish School. Mechelen. Circa 1500. 'Christ Child' Carved wooden sculpture. Measurements with base: 29,5 x 13,5 x 8,5 cm.   The canon of the clear and slightly bulging forehead, slanted eyes and small mouth correspond to the characteristics of Flemish sculptural production, specifically that of Mechelen. It is carved according to the dictates of the dynamism of Gothic sculpture, having the famous 'compensatory posture,' which is created by the forward placement of the leg opposite to the curved hip. In this way, the sculptor manages to create an extraordinary effect of drapery in motion. This sculpture should be classified as a 'Poupée de Malines' or 'Mechelen Doll.'  These were small statues of the Virgin Mary, saints, or the Christ Child that were produced in sizeable quantities from the mid-15th century until 1515-30. They spread widely, precisely due to their format, which met the needs of private or domestic worship perfectly. The quality of the carving, along with the rich polychrome and the sweet and gentle expression on the face,  contributed to the popularisation of these small sculptures. It is known that they were among the Flemish goods that were shipped to the Iberian Peninsula or even to more distant lands such as the Canary Islands, Latin America, and the Philippines.