Eucharistic Urn

Due to its artistic qualities, the Eucharistic urn is one of the most important pieces of the Franz Mayer collection.

The urn, used to carry the Holy Sacrament on Holy Thursday in a symbolic procession, is mounted on a rectangular structure similar to a box, and the lid's finish features the Archangel Saint Michael dressed as a Roman soldier with two iconographic attributes, the flaming sword and the medieval lance defeating Lucifer, representing the continuous battle between good and evil.

Its corners feature four caryatids, with the torso exposed, showing a feminine anatomy. The torsos, without arms, rest upon pilasters whose lower parts become extensions of dead leaves. On top of the caryatids are four long and stylized dragons with curved proportions about to pounce. On the surface of the urn we can observe intertwined dead leaves, flowers and grenadines. This decorative profusion is repeated symmetrically around the piece, as a symbol of that which grows and is fertile.

The extraordinary craftsmanship of this piece dating from the late 17 th Century, worked in lost wax casting in silver, with repoussé work and chiseled, is the work of Juan de Pose, from Santiago de Compostela, Spain.

We know the name of the artist due to the presence of his seal, in which he abbreviates his name to the letters “JVA-POSE”. This seal is repeated on different parts of the piece.

Tabernacle
México
1788 /1819 –1823
82 X 33 cm. de diameter

This model of a tabernacle, with the stem or anthropomorphic foot generally representing the Archangel Saint Michael or the Immaculate Conception, as in this case, was very common in New Spain during the 18 th Century.

We can observe representations alluding to the Eucharist: the lamb, wheat and grapes, and apocalyptic images: the Book of the Seven Seals, the Apocalyptic Virgin with the moon at her feet and the devil.

Cigarette Case Set

Gold in three different colors, cast, forged, chiseled, repoussé, and graffito with application of semi precious and precious stones.
Mexico
Late 18th Century to First half of 19th Century

This set of cigarette cases is an example of multiple techniques used in silver work. All of them show work in different gold colors, obtained by the diversity of gold alloy and law. Another important characteristic is the delicate work of forging and chiseling and the semi precious and precious stones inlayed in the knobs that open the cigarette cases' lids.