It is noteworthy that most of the ivory carved in India actually came from the Portuguese colonies in Africa. African ivory was much preferred by the Indian craftsmen since it was less brittle and could be carved with more detail. Thousands of tusks were imported annually by the end of the sixteenth century. The trade with Europe included decorative objects and furniture as well as religious statues. Small caskets were often either made entirely of ivory or included ivory decoration.
The Manila-Acapulco Galleon Trade played an important role in the history of religious art in ivory. Not only raw material boarded the galleons but finished pieces as well, making it possible for beautifully carved ivories to be imported into and exported out of the Philippines. Portuguese Macau and Goa produced beautifully crafted Christian pieces that still reflect the Asian artistic identity. Both of these aforementioned regions have ivory carving traditions predating Christianity, acknowledged for their significant contributions to colonial art in ivory.
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Under the direction of Portuguese missionaries, large quantities of ivory sourced from their East African colonies came to be used to carve ecclesiastical statuettes at local workshops by indigenous artisans. Art and artefacts played a pivotal role in their endeavor to disseminate the Christian faith. They built churches and directed local artisans in the making of thousands of Catholic images in wood and ivory — some in large sizes for walls and altars, others small and compact to serve as portable icons that the evangelists could distribute.
