SILVER INCENSE BOAT (NAVICULAE). WITH HALLMARKS. POSSIBLY PORTUGAL, 18TH CENTURY. (COUNTERWEIGHT IN THE BASE)

Naveta. Silver. Possibly Portugal, 18th century. Counterweighted base. With contrast markings. Naveta with oval foot decorated with relief elements and moldings, balustraded foot and body with a slight boat shape, presenting a hinged lid at the front, a widening in the lower area towards the foot and a decoration distributed throughout the exterior to base of seed beads motifs and plant elements (the same theme is presented on the foot and base) on a polished polished background, with an angel's head on two wings in relief towards the beak, accompanied by plant elements (the which protrude over the edge of the lid). Although the shape of the piece generally follows the most common prototypes of these incense containers used in the liturgy, it should be noted that it was more common to find them more similar to a ship. The belonging of the nave to the influence of Rococo is clear both by the lines of the object and by the decoration to which reference has already been made (rockets, vegetal elements with movement, 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, has a finial with an angel's head in relief. from Lisbon in Portugal; compare with the gilded silver incense burner that the same master made between 1749 and 1751 for the Chapel of Saint John the Baptist in the Church of Saint Roch in Lisbon). The contrast marks present on the upper part of the nave (the capital letters “de” in a rectangular space), although it should also be noted that the present work does not follow the most striking typology of navetas related to this center (naveta de 18th century silver from the Church of Alcántara in Maranhao, Brazil; nave by Sebastiao Bernardes dos Santos dated 1747 from the Sé do Funchal that is preserved in the Museu de Arte Sacra do Funchal in Madeira –Portugal-).Weight: 715 gr (base with counterweight).

· Size: 19x9x14 cms.