Devotional plaque

This devotional plaque is crafted from stanniferous enamel and features relief decoration in iron orange, cobalt blue, and copper green colors. The centerpiece of the plaque is the trigram of Saint Bernardine “HIS” in relief, centrally positioned on a disc adorned with rays that alternate between flames and straight segments ending in small stars, all in relief and orange color. A series of raised blue lines connects the tips of the rays, while another raised blue line outlines the circular shape of the tile. The edge of the surface contains a series of holes, created before firing, to facilitate anchoring the plaque to a wall.
Plaques of this type were often placed on the external surfaces of houses, usually above the entrance door, to protect the domestic space. This practice continued until the nineteenth century with the use of votive plaques depicting sacred figures or symbols.
The Bernardine monogram was prominently featured not only on devotional ceramics but also on tableware, particularly small table jugs, created in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. This is evidenced by materials from Crypta Balbi, among other sources.
This item has never before been displayed. 

Luca Pesante

Entry published on 27 March 2025

Poor.

“IHS.”

Rome, Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Antica, Palazzo Barberini, 1919;
Rome, Museo Nazionale di Palazzo Venezia, 1919.