Alms box

Alms boxes could have been of various shapes and materials. As the name implies, they are closed receptacles in which the faithful placed alms for church or for religious work. The latter included efforts sponsored by Goa’s numerous confraternities, whose boxes were affixed to the wall for greater security.
The alms box of the Brotherhood of Our Lady of the Rosary is one of these, with its moulded red back bordered on the side by outward-pointing circle segments. In the space thus defined, a local artist depicted Our Lady of the Rosary crowned, standing on a base, holding the Child and pointing with her right hand to two kneeling members of the brotherhood wearing their distinctive sleeveless garments, who hold candles that illuminate the image. The polychrome painting covers not only on the upright back of the alms box, but extends onto the top with its coin slit; over the lock is a waving ribbon with the inscription N.S.D.R. [Nossa Senhora do Rosario/ Our lady of the Rosary], indicating the brotherhood for whom the alms were destined