195

Italian solid silver ex-voto, Naples, 1835-1863

Height x width: 18.5 x 16 cm. Weight: 105 g.
A form of folk art, handcrafted objects that represent testimonies of devotion and religiosity, often linked to miraculous events or requests for miracles, often positioned between history and legend, much like relics. The themes depicted are usually Madonnas, Saints, or categories of vows such as healings, accidents, and natural disasters, with patrons coming from various social classes.

In this case, there is central face figure, who might represent the patrons or the healed person. Indeed, these ex-votos reflect a ritual commitment from the petitioner, the one who makes the vow, who may coincide with the healed person, the one who has suffered harm, and the deity who intercedes.
The space on the tablet, as in this lamina, is usually divided into two distinct parts: one dedicated to the deity, with a votive inscription, either abbreviated or fully written, or a representation, and the depiction of the healed part (in the case of a healing) or the miracle (in the case of a disaster). Therefore, we find the letters V.F. - G.A. written below the representation, votive initials for "Voto Fatto - Grazia Avuta" (Vow Made - Grace Received). Votive tablets are effective artistic representations that capture the drama experienced by the devotees, carefully describing the details to make both the recipient of the grace and the extraordinary event they experienced recognizable. They reflect not only the suffering and despair of the moment but also the invocation for help and the gratitude for the grace received. These images document various types of suffering and accidents.

833/1000 silver, hallmarked with the mark used by the goldsmiths' guild of Naples for silver objects of 833/1000 fineness or 10 ounces in use from 1832 to 1872, assayer Gennaro Mannara (1835-1863).
Literature:
Ref. Elio e Corrado Catello, Argenti napoletani dal XVI al XIX secolo, 1973, p. 108-116.
23/01/2025 23:08:14
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Curiosities from European and Oriental art
Silvers, Ivories, Corals, Icons, and Wunderkammer

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