This aspersorium with base, belly, mouth and handle, has a smooth border on the base and a tier of vegetal elements in relief. On the belly, there are tangent smooth surfaces that form a border. Inside each section, there are nosegays of flowers in relief. Over this formation, there is a twisted cord of laurel with four bands. As a delimiting feature, there is a tier of acanthus leaves. Next to the smooth border, there are two angel heads with wings.
The handle has two fantasy marine animals, face to face, linked by a node in relief and framed. Inside, on the bottom, there is an armillary sphere in relief.
The piece is attributed to a Portuguese workshop of the second decade of the 16th century. It was part of the gift from D. Manuel to the Funchal Cathedral and is mentioned in all the inventories.1
It was in the Pavilion of the Holy See at Expo 98, in Lisbon.
1 A Sé do Funchal, Padre Manuel Juvenal Pita Ferreira, JGDAF, Funchal, 1963, p. 174.
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