Florentine goldsmith, Liturgical basin with Madonna and Child

Author
Florentine goldsmith
Date
1450-1499
Collocation
Sala del Tesoro
Original location
Cathedral, treasure
Material
Copper, gold, silver
Technique
Embossing, chiselling, gilding, engraving
Dimensions
Diameter: 33 cm;

Round liturgical basin made by Florentine artists between the second half of the 15th and 16th centuries, in silver and gilded copper. At centre, the basin bears a medallion containing the image of the Madonna and Child enthroned among angels. The internal border is enriched with a variety of decorative motifs. On the outer side, the basin is marked out by a series of circular clypei with musician angels, interspersed with bouquets of flowers. The basin has been used since the dawn of the Christian liturgy in the rite of ablution of the hands of the celebrating priest. This particular work was undocumented until registration in the 1969 catalogue of the Museum, without any accompanying information. The supposition is that it was commissioned by the Salimbeni family, because of the motif of the three poppies, also featured in this family’s heraldic arms. Niccolò Salimbeni was also the commissioner of the Reliquary of the Holy Apostles (also in the Museum, in the Chapel of the Reliquaries), which stylistically recalls this basin.

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Sala del tesoro