Spanish school; c. 1800.

Spanish school; c. 1800.
Carved and gilded wood.
Presents faults.
Measurements: 24 x 37 x 31 cm.
Wooden base for a sculpture
This pedestal, attributed to the Spanish school and dated around 1800, is an excellent example of the mastery in carving and gilding that characterized the religious and ornamental imagery of the late Baroque and early Neoclassicism in Spain. It is made of carved and gilded wood, with a decorative profusion that combines vegetal, zoomorphic and angelic elements, revealing a remarkable iconographic and stylistic richness.
The body of the pedestal has a robust cubic form, supported by four legs in the shape of lion claws, a common allusion to strength and nobility in sacred art. Each corner is decorated with winged cherub heads in high relief, whose delicate and sweet expressions refer to traditional celestial iconography. The wings are sculpted in detail, bringing dynamism to the whole.
In the center of each side face there is an ornamental monogram in the form of a double intertwined "M", surrounded by floral garlands and vegetal scrolls, probably alluding to the Virgin Mary (Maria Mater), which suggests that the pedestal may have been designed to support a Marian image.
The upper part is topped by a molding with a frieze of acanthus leaves and flamboyant ornamentation, creating a sort of "crown" that accentuates the sacred and ceremonial character of the object. This upper section also shows visible wear in the gilding, typical of its age and prolonged devotional use.