Processional cross

Author: Manuel Pinto de Queirós (?)

Date: ca 1848

Material: Silver and gilt brass

Dimensions (cm): H 115 x W 51,5

Provenance: Guimarães, Irmandade de São Nicolau

Owner: Guimarães, Irmandade de São Nicolau

Inventory No.: MAS OD 8

The most original element of this big cross is the knop, in the shape of an urn, as it shows a miniaturized crosier and a mitre, recalling Saint Nicholas, and an open book with a passage from Saint Matthew. The Episcopal insignias recall the saint, bishop of Myra, proving this piece was made for the saint.

The silversmith conjugates plain or worked silver with engraved gilt brass, which he used on the figure of Christ, in the double halo of arrow shaped rays, in the floral ornamentation at the ends of the arms and of the stem, in the garland and in the acanthus leaves placed on the knop.

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.