Confraternity staffs
Author: Unknown
Date: 19th century
Material: Silver
Dimensions (cm): MAS OD 15: D 1,6 x L 154,8| MAS OD 16: D 1,6 x L 154,4 | MAS OD 17: D 1,6 x L 155,6
Inscription: S. NICOLAU
Provenance: Guimarães, Irmandade de São Nicolau
Owner: Guimarães, Irmandade de São Nicolau
Inventory No.: MAS OD 15, MAS OD 16 and MAS OD 17
Set three confraternity staffs, power insignias, used by the members of the Mesa of the Brotherhood (direction). They are composed of five segments that fit into each other and they have the image of Saint Nicholas at the centre. This image is united to the staff by a ring with the engraved legend: “S. Nicolau”.
The Brotherhood of Saint Nicholas entrusted to the keeping of the Museu de Alberto Sampaio a nucleus of silverware in which the processional cross and the crosier of the respective patron saint with his life-size image are the most prominent pieces. This brotherhood counts more than three centuries of existence and the saint bishop, patron saint of students, continues to be worshipped by Guimarães academics, holding the traditional Festas Nicolinas in the first week of December in his honour.