Silver Cross -- Front
Silver Cross
3rd Quarter of the 19th Century
Silver
H:26 1/4” x L:14” x W:6” (67 cm x 36 cm x 15 cm)
weight: 2136 g
Starting bid: P 240,000
Provenance: Made in Manila
This silver cross was once part of a ciriales, a set of processional candlesticks and a cross that were placed on top of long poles encased in silver that were held by sacristans who preceded religious processions in the country. Since the front and back of the cross could be seen, both sides were decorated. In the course of time, the use of heavy silver processional accoutrements lost favor and was replaced by simple, turned, lightweight wooden ones so familiar today.
This cross was originally placed on top of a large silver cup embossed and chased with the usual acanthus leaves. However, a sampaguita on a long stem decorating the juncture of each leaf makes it unusual. A narrower cup below is decorated with frieze of leaves chased with very fine lines and rests on a knopf above a slim, elongated acanthus bud. When the silver processional cross was no longer being used, the parish priest decided to make it an altar cross by inverting the cup that terminated the pole and making it into the base of the cross, enabling it to stand on its own.
The cross consists of silver plates appliqued to both faces of an inner wooden cross, while silver strips are nailed all around the sides to hide the wooden core. Both faces are completely covered with graceful, delicately embossed and chased acanthus leaves. The ends of the cross have tri-lobed terminals or cantoneras defined by a narrow convex molding enclosing a beautifully rendered acanthus leaf.
The arms and body of the cross are bordered by narrow bead moldings with laurel leaves chased on the outer edges. Between the borders are long, leafy lily stems topped by a large flower in full bloom. The intersection of the cross is appliqued with a roundel with an outer bead molding attached to a grooved one. The front disk is embossed and chased with a sunburst that serves as a halo for the cast-silver figure of the crucified Christ appliqued to the cross, while that at the back is embossed and chased with a figure of a crowned Virgin Mary on a bank of clouds.
The design of the cross is not the ordinary pattern that one often sees in 19th century ciriales. The attention to detail and the superlative workmanship indicates that it was made by a master silversmith. -Martin I. Tinio, Jr
Lot 75 of the Leon Gallery auction on 5 December 2015. Please see www.leon-gallery.com for more details.
Silver Cross -- Front
Silver Cross
3rd Quarter of the 19th Century
Silver
H:26 1/4” x L:14” x W:6” (67 cm x 36 cm x 15 cm)
weight: 2136 g
Starting bid: P 240,000
Provenance: Made in Manila
This silver cross was once part of a ciriales, a set of processional candlesticks and a cross that were placed on top of long poles encased in silver that were held by sacristans who preceded religious processions in the country. Since the front and back of the cross could be seen, both sides were decorated. In the course of time, the use of heavy silver processional accoutrements lost favor and was replaced by simple, turned, lightweight wooden ones so familiar today.
This cross was originally placed on top of a large silver cup embossed and chased with the usual acanthus leaves. However, a sampaguita on a long stem decorating the juncture of each leaf makes it unusual. A narrower cup below is decorated with frieze of leaves chased with very fine lines and rests on a knopf above a slim, elongated acanthus bud. When the silver processional cross was no longer being used, the parish priest decided to make it an altar cross by inverting the cup that terminated the pole and making it into the base of the cross, enabling it to stand on its own.
The cross consists of silver plates appliqued to both faces of an inner wooden cross, while silver strips are nailed all around the sides to hide the wooden core. Both faces are completely covered with graceful, delicately embossed and chased acanthus leaves. The ends of the cross have tri-lobed terminals or cantoneras defined by a narrow convex molding enclosing a beautifully rendered acanthus leaf.
The arms and body of the cross are bordered by narrow bead moldings with laurel leaves chased on the outer edges. Between the borders are long, leafy lily stems topped by a large flower in full bloom. The intersection of the cross is appliqued with a roundel with an outer bead molding attached to a grooved one. The front disk is embossed and chased with a sunburst that serves as a halo for the cast-silver figure of the crucified Christ appliqued to the cross, while that at the back is embossed and chased with a figure of a crowned Virgin Mary on a bank of clouds.
The design of the cross is not the ordinary pattern that one often sees in 19th century ciriales. The attention to detail and the superlative workmanship indicates that it was made by a master silversmith. -Martin I. Tinio, Jr
Lot 75 of the Leon Gallery auction on 5 December 2015. Please see www.leon-gallery.com for more details.