18th C. Spanish Colonial Silver Farol, Repousse Cherubs
South America, Bolivia, Spanish Colonial, ca. 1700–1799 CE. A large ecclesiastical farol, its four sheet-silver walls worked in high repousse and finished with chasing and pierced openwork so candlelight could escape. Each face frames an arched niche between flanking columns hung with flowering vines, rosettes and pomegranates, crowned by a winged cherub head; a domed, pierced cover rises above, and winged cherub feet crouch at the corners. Devotional plaques distinguish the sides: a bearded priest holding a Bible, a cross with the Christogram "IHS", and the initials "IMVR", probably a donor or confraternity mark. A suspension ring at the apex and a small integral candle socket set into the floor confirm its use, carried or hung in church processions, and perhaps serving as a portable sacrarium. Size: 8" W x 16" H (20.3 cm W x 40.6 cm H); 2.34 KG.
Silver flowed out of Potosi in quantities that reshaped the world economy, and a share of it stayed in the Andes, beaten into liturgical furnishings for the churches of Upper Peru. Colonial silversmiths there absorbed Iberian Baroque vocabulary, acanthus, Solomonic columns, seraph heads, and inflected it with a dense, horror-vacui surface and Andean flora: pomegranates, sunflower rosettes, and coiling vines that leave scarcely a blank field.
The "IHS" monogram is the Christogram formed from the first three letters of the Greek IHSOUS, adopted as the emblem of the Society of Jesus and ubiquitous across Jesuit and Franciscan foundations in the viceroyalty. Faroles of this scale accompanied the Blessed Sacrament in procession, sheltering the flame that announced its passage through the street; the interior candle socket and apex suspension ring together allowed it to be borne on a pole or hung before an altar.
A farol with comparable cherub feet is illustrated in "The Silver and Silversmiths of Peru" (Lima, 1997), fig. 11-77.
Provenance: From the Collection of Michael Fuchs, NY., acquired from Judith Nash, 11/20/02. Ex. David Bernstein Fine Art, NYC., with copy of invoice dated April 15th, 2002. Examined and appraised by Judy Nash, June 1, 2005 for $38,000, number MF85. Ex. David Bernstein Fine Arts, NYC., invoice # M.2015, object is M2016.
SHIPPING: We coordinate worldwide shipping in-house through specialist international forwarders experienced with fine art and antiquities customs manifests. International buyers must confirm, prior to bidding, that their country's customs authority will accept the item. All duties, taxes, clearance fees, and any costs arising from customs delays, seizures, re-export, returns, or loss in transit are the buyer's sole responsibility. Artemis assumes no liability for items refused entry, detained, or lost after export. We cannot ship ancient items to their country of origin (Egyptian to Egypt, Greek to Greece, etc.).For those not using LiveAuctioneers' Live Ship program, Artemis Fine Arts offers expert in-house packing and worldwide shipping. With over 20 years of experience, our team provides careful, reliable, and affordable service. For a quick quote on this lot, please contact support@artemisfinearts.com prior to the auction, or call 720-890-7700.
PAYMENT EXCEPTION: For clients not previously established with Artemis, payment for all gold, precious metal, and gemstone lots must be made by bank wire transfer or certified bank check/money order, without exception.
Item #
73254
Condition
The door has been replaced, otherwise overall excellent condition.
Buyer's Premium
30%
South America, Bolivia, Spanish Colonial, ca. 1700–1799 CE. A large ecclesiastical farol, its four sheet-silver walls worked in high repousse and finished with chasing and pierced openwork so candlelight could escape. Each face frames an arched niche between flanking columns hung with flowering vines, rosettes and pomegranates, crowned by a winged cherub head; a domed, pierced cover rises above, and winged cherub feet crouch at the corners. Devotional plaques distinguish the sides: a bearded priest holding a Bible, a cross with the Christogram "IHS", and the initials "IMVR", probably a donor or confraternity mark. A suspension ring at the apex and a small integral candle socket set into the floor confirm its use, carried or hung in church processions, and perhaps serving as a portable sacrarium. Size: 8" W x 16" H (20.3 cm W x 40.6 cm H); 2.34 KG.
Silver flowed out of Potosi in quantities that reshaped the world economy, and a share of it stayed in the Andes, beaten into liturgical furnishings for the churches of Upper Peru. Colonial silversmiths there absorbed Iberian Baroque vocabulary, acanthus, Solomonic columns, seraph heads, and inflected it with a dense, horror-vacui surface and Andean flora: pomegranates, sunflower rosettes, and coiling vines that leave scarcely a blank field.
The "IHS" monogram is the Christogram formed from the first three letters of the Greek IHSOUS, adopted as the emblem of the Society of Jesus and ubiquitous across Jesuit and Franciscan foundations in the viceroyalty. Faroles of this scale accompanied the Blessed Sacrament in procession, sheltering the flame that announced its passage through the street; the interior candle socket and apex suspension ring together allowed it to be borne on a pole or hung before an altar.
A farol with comparable cherub feet is illustrated in "The Silver and Silversmiths of Peru" (Lima, 1997), fig. 11-77.
Provenance: From the Collection of Michael Fuchs, NY., acquired from Judith Nash, 11/20/02. Ex. David Bernstein Fine Art, NYC., with copy of invoice dated April 15th, 2002. Examined and appraised by Judy Nash, June 1, 2005 for $38,000, number MF85. Ex. David Bernstein Fine Arts, NYC., invoice # M.2015, object is M2016.
SHIPPING: We coordinate worldwide shipping in-house through specialist international forwarders experienced with fine art and antiquities customs manifests. International buyers must confirm, prior to bidding, that their country's customs authority will accept the item. All duties, taxes, clearance fees, and any costs arising from customs delays, seizures, re-export, returns, or loss in transit are the buyer's sole responsibility. Artemis assumes no liability for items refused entry, detained, or lost after export. We cannot ship ancient items to their country of origin (Egyptian to Egypt, Greek to Greece, etc.).For those not using LiveAuctioneers' Live Ship program, Artemis Fine Arts offers expert in-house packing and worldwide shipping. With over 20 years of experience, our team provides careful, reliable, and affordable service. For a quick quote on this lot, please contact support@artemisfinearts.com prior to the auction, or call 720-890-7700.
PAYMENT EXCEPTION: For clients not previously established with Artemis, payment for all gold, precious metal, and gemstone lots must be made by bank wire transfer or certified bank check/money order, without exception.
Item #
73254
Condition
The door has been replaced, otherwise overall excellent condition.
Buyer's Premium
30%
