18th C. Spanish Colonial Silver Santo Dress

This is an absolutely gorgeous large dress that once adorned a carved church Santo from Potosí, Bolivia. Formed from heavy high content silver, the garment has been embellished with traditional Spanish colonial designs using deep repoussé. The central figure is a Spanish colonial man carring a processional staff with the flag and a cross. The man is in full traditional colonial dress, typical of 17th and 18th century cofradia elder. There is minor loss to the edges of the garment, and an indigenous repair is evident on the upper right hand side (details below). There were once ribbons that would have been placed through the small holes in the dress, attaching it to the Santo or Santo Niño.

Rarely seen outside of museums, this is a rare and wonderful Spanish colonial silver treasure from South America!

Measurements: 10 1/2 " high x 7 1/4" to 9 1/4" wide; 215 grams

#22909     $2200