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Pair of 18th Century Italian Altar Ornaments in Gold Silver Mecca Giltwood

About the Item

A beautiful pair of carved Italian church altar palm holders in mecca silver leaf from the last quarter of the 18th century and in the Luise XVI manner. Each palm holders measures 13.38 inches high 12 inches wide and 6 inches deep. They are gilded with the antique technique of "Mecca". A 17th century gilding technique of coloring the actual silver leaf with a gold varnish (Mecca) that makes it appear as gold leaf. As they were used in a church altar, the backs were never seen. Therefore, they are only gilded on the front. The use of these objects took place in the ecclesiastical sphere. These were sacred objects placed on the altars. Due to their beautiful craftsmanship and beauty, these palm holders are collected and used as decorative objects. Since ancient times the palm tree was a symbol of victory. With the spread of Christianity, the Church adopted the victory symbol of the palm frond as an attribution of the martyrs and the triumph of Jesus Christ over death. Additionally, the olive tree also appears in early Christian art as a reference to peace and is associated with the palm tree as a sign of the entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem. Processions in memory of this event have been documented in Jerusalem since the 4th century and in the West since the 7th century. From these ancient ceremonies comes the tradition of placing olive or palm branches on the altar between the candlesticks on the days between Palm Sunday and Holy Wednesday. The palm holders are distressed and have visible signs of aging including small holes from past wood worms. The have been treated to insure there is no issue with wood worms. Items are located in Italy.

Dimensions:

Height: 13.38 in (33.99 cm)Width: 12 in (30.48 cm)Depth: 6 in (15.24 cm)

Sold As:

Set of 2

Style:

Louis XVI (Of the Period)

Materials and Techniques:

Wood

Place of Origin:

Italy

Period:

Mid-18th Century

Date of Manufacture:

1750

Condition:

Wear consistent with age and use. The palm holders are distressed and have visible signs of aging including small holes from past wood worms. The cadelabra have been treated to insure there is no issue with wood worms. Items are located in Italy. Please inquiry for shipping details.

Seller Location:

New York, NY

Reference Number:

1stDibs: LU1029219608272