Baroque silver votive lamp. Spain, 17th century.
Measurements: 110 cm (height); 86 cm (diameter).
Weight: 8700 gr.
Votive lamp made entirely of silver, topped by an upper hemispherical cover, from which hang eight chains, four of which are connected to a smaller openwork crown, and the other four are connected to the main body. The latter is structured on three levels: an upper crown from which nine curved vegetal-format arms, ending in their respective lighters, and two lower bodies suspended from it. From this central body hangs a final mobile structure that continues the baroque typology of the lamp. The beauty of the piece lies not only in its typically Baroque dynamic structure, but also in the masterful embossing and chiselling in which the silver has been worked, which denotes an eighteenth-century Rococo taste. The decorative motifs, carved with great detail and attention to texture, are also typical of this style: a display of acanthus leaves and scrolls combine harmoniously with smooth surfaces and medallions. Also noteworthy is the chiselled decoration of the chains, which are oval in shape and finished with a serrated outer profile. The attention to detail is particularly evident in the reliefs that crown the main body, which contain a central medallion and are flanked by structures of great beauty and workmanship.