SILVER INCENSE BOAT (NAVICULAE). WITH HALLMARKS. POSSIBLY PORTUGAL, 18TH CENTURY. (COUNTERWEIGHT IN THE BASE)
Antiques -
Reference: ZE244
Naveta. Silver. Possibly Portugal, 18th century. Counterweighted base. With hallmarks. A boat with an oval base decorated with elements in relief and mouldings, a balustraded base and a body with a slight boat shape, presenting a lid with hinges at the front, a widening in the lower area towards the foot and a decoration distributed throughout the exterior based on rocaille motifs and vegetal elements (the same theme is presented on the foot and the base) on a lustre-painted background, with an angel's head on two small wings in relief towards the spout, accompanied by vegetal elements (which protrude from the edge of the lid). Although the shape of the piece generally follows the most common prototypes of these incense vessels used in the liturgy, it should be noted that it was more common to find them more similar to a boat. The belonging of the naveta to the Rococo influence is clear both from the lines of the object and from the decoration already mentioned (rocailles, moving plant elements, volutes with pronounced curves, contrasts between concave and convex lines...), and it is also possible to find some points in common with Portuguese works (a silver naveta with a spoon by Leandro Gagliardi made in Rome between 1744 and 1750, which is preserved in the Sao Roque Museum in Lisbon, Portugal, has a finial with an angel's head in relief; compare this with the gilded silver censer that the same master made between 1749 and 1751 for the Chapel of St. John the Baptist in the Church of St. Roque in Lisbon). The hallmarks present on the upper part of the naveta (the capital letters “de” in a rectangular space), although it should also be noted that this work does not follow the most striking typology of navetas related to this centre (18th century silver naveta from the Church of Alcántara in Maranhao, Brazil; naveta by Sebastiao Bernardes dos Santos dated 1747 from the Sé do Funchal which is preserved in the Museu de Arte Sacra Do Funchal in Madeira –Portugal-). Weight: 715 gr (base with counterweight).
· Size: 19x9x14 cms.
1.800 €
