Triceratops trunk. Tree of Knowledge. Spain, 17th century.

Triceratops trunk. Tree of Knowledge. Spain, 17th century.
Wood carved in the full-round style.
The three original upper candleholders are missing.
It shows minor damage and missing parts consistent with its age.
Measurements: 182 cm (height).

This unique tricerio shaft is a rare example of a liturgical type that is scarcely preserved today, although it has been documented in the Spanish liturgy since medieval times. The tricerio was a long pole topped by a three-branched candelabrum, used during the Easter Vigil to carry the “new fire” into the church and successively light its three candles before the Paschal candle. Historical examples have been preserved, such as the one in Segovia Cathedral, dating from the 15th to 16th centuries, and specialized literature also documents other Spanish examples.

The piece’s uniqueness also lies in its elaborate iconographic design. The shaft takes the form of the Tree of Knowledge, around which the serpent of Original Sin spirals upward. Its body culminates in an anthropomorphic head with feminine features—a youthful face, almond-shaped eyes, and a profusion of curly hair—following an iconographic tradition that directly links the liturgical instrument to the story of the Fall. The serpentine shape of the tricerium itself has been documented since the Late Middle Ages and reflects the rich symbolism developed around the Easter celebration.

During the ceremony, the three candles were lit one after another as the procession advanced toward the altar, culminating in the lighting of the Paschal candle. In this way, the tree and the serpent—images of sin and death—were set in contrast to the light that heralds the Resurrection and Christ’s victory. The three candles have been interpreted both in relation to the Trinity and to the three days that elapsed between Christ’s death and Resurrection.

The scarcity of preserved ancient tricerios, combined with the monumental height of this example and the preservation of its unique serpentine sculptural design, makes the piece of particular interest within Spain’s liturgical heritage.