Spanish school, XVII century.

Spanish school, XVII century.
In silver with methacrylate base.
Weight: 184 g.
Measurements: 22 x 14,50 cm., 26 x 14,50 cm.

This laborious cross, dated in the first half of the XVII century, has been entirely worked in embossed silver, a material very used for this type of objects. It is a cross of great richness, profusely adorned with embossed cherubs on the arms of the cross. The figure of the Virgin and child presides over the center, a special and unconventional motif, since in most cases the cross is presided over by the crucified Christ.
During the Romanesque and Gothic periods, the most frequent was the sculptural conception as part of the architecture. However, there were also examples of free-standing sculpture, such as processional crosses or crosses for private chapels, which presided over religious rites. This type of object was widely used from the 4th century onwards. Before the 8th century, the crosses hung from the altars, however, this arrangement would change, being placed on a point or lower spike of the altar. The crosses are the most important pieces of the ecclesiastical trousseau, usually in number of one per parish.