Palangana; Colonial school, XIX century.

Palangana; Colonial school, XIX century.
Silver.
Measurements: 15 x 53 x 44 cm.
Weight: 3276 g.
Silver basin. During the 19th century, Colonial silverware reached a remarkable degree of technical quality and artistic relevance, consolidating itself as one of the most significant manifestations of late colonial art in Latin America. This production was distinguished by the mastery of metalwork, especially in liturgical and ornamental pieces, which combined baroque and neoclassical influences with elements of local traditions. The workshops, many of them directed by mestizo or indigenous artisans, were able to develop their own style, characterized by meticulous chiseling, filigree and embossing. Beyond its aesthetic value, 19th century colonial silverware fulfilled a symbolic and functional role within the ecclesiastical and civil context, consolidating itself as a vehicle of social prestige and identity expression in a period of transition between the colonial order and the new independent republics. Thus, its study allows us not only to appreciate the technical expertise of its creators, but also to understand the complex cultural and social dynamics of the time.