Spanish Colonial Silver Incense Boat

This silver vessel, used in a church to store incense powder, is of chased and embossed silver. The hollow body is based on the stylised form of the hull of a sailing ship. It stands on a tiered, domed, circular foot, and has a baluster-form stem.

The form and decoration suggest Spanish colonial origins – most probably Mexico.

The cover has a hinged lid and is engraved with flower and leaf scrollwork. The cover is kept closed with a small latch and eyelet.

The sides are engraved with leafy motifs. The foot is repoussed in high relief with rococo-style leafy decoration.

The rococo styling suggests an eighteenth century dating. However, the swirling foliate motifs also relate to the Islamic Moorish antecedents of Iberian art which was accentuated with the leafy motifs already employed in South and Central American art of the period.

Incense containers inspired by boat forms are known from the fifteenth century and became popular in the seventeenth and eighteenth century in Portugal and Spain and their colonies and possessions. The form appears to derive from Spain and Portugal’s extraordinary maritime and trade interests at the time.

The foot attaches to the base by means of a screw with a hand-cut thread.

Examples of colonial silver incense boats are illustrated in Bargellini (1993, p. 61), Esteras Martin (1994, p. 61, 93, 103, 117). Many of have similar scrolled vegetal motifs.

The example here is in fine condition. It’s age is apparent with the silver having developed a soft hue. The cover has some (as yet) unidentified maker’s marks.