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

Naveta. Silver. Possibly Portugal, 18th century. Counterweighted base. With contrasting markings. Boat with an oval foot decorated with relief elements and moldings, balustraded foot and body with a slight boat shape, featuring a hinged lid at the front, a widening at the bottom towards the foot and a decoration spread throughout the exterior based on rocaille motifs and plant elements (the same theme is presented on the foot and base) on a background of stippled luster, with an angel's head on two small wings in relief towards the beak, accompanied by plant elements (which protrude from the edge of the lid). While the shape of the piece generally follows the most common prototypes for these incense vessels used in liturgy, it should be noted that they were more frequently found to resemble a boat. The incense boat's Rococo influence is clear both from the object's lines and from the decoration already mentioned (rococo motifs, dynamic plant elements, volutes with pronounced curves, contrasts between concave and convex lines, etc.). It is also possible to find some commonalities with Portuguese works (a silver incense boat with a spoon by Leandro Gagliardi, made in Rome between 1744 and 1750 and now in the São Roque Museum in Lisbon, Portugal, features a finial with a relief angel's head; compare it with the silver-gilt censer that the same master made between 1749 and 1751 for the Chapel of St. John the Baptist in the Church of São Roque in Lisbon). The contrasting marks present on the top of the naveta (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 (18th century silver naveta from the Church of Alcántara in Maranhao, Brazil; naveta of Sebastiao Bernardes dos Santos dated 1747 from the Sé do Funchal that is kept in the Museu de Arte Sacra Do Funchal in Madeira –Portugal-). Weight: 715 gr (base with counterweight).

· Size: 19x9x14 cms.