Spice tree; Bolivia or Peru, 18th century.

Spice; Bolivia or Peru, 18th century.
Silver.
Measurements: 25 x 20 cm (diameter).
This singular object of civil silverware, made in the Andean environment -probably in Bolivia or Peru, during the 18th century, takes the form of a richly worked turkey. The piece reveals through its technique the tradition of South American colonial goldsmithing, famous for the quality of its silver and the formal imagination of its designs.
The bird, conceived with meticulous detail, presents chiseled plumage and carefully modeled volumes. In some specimens of this type, filigree work and openwork can be seen that visually lighten the structure and add an effect of delicacy. The figure is usually placed on a tray or integrated base, which reinforces its character as a central object, destined to preside over tables or sideboards.
Its main function was that of a smoke sahumador: seeds, resins or aromatic leaves were burned inside to perfume domestic rooms. In certain contexts it could also be used as a spice rack, containing precious substances linked to both the culinary and ceremonial spheres. Thus, the object not only fulfilled a practical purpose, but also participated in the sensory culture of the Baroque, where the aroma, the shine of metals and material wealth contributed to the aesthetic and social experience.
The choice of the turkey is not accidental. A bird native to the Americas, it is associated with prestige and abundance. In the particular case of the turkey smoker of colonial tradition, the meaning is associated with the Resurrection of Christ and abundance, since the Peacock arrived in America during the sixteenth century, impressing the Indians with its size and color. Therefore, the meaning adopted with the religious syncretism in mestizo art is that contributed by the evangelists during the conquest and the first centuries of the Colony.