Salva de Aparato "História de Judite"

This is a large salver portraying the life of Judith and episodes from the missionary expansion and probably the five martyrs of Morrocco. The design is made up of three concentric bands. The largest features eight scenes, divided up by small columns, ornamented in floral motifs and with claw-shaped bases, telling the life of Judith and the death of the Holofernes. The central strip, meanwhile, contains six hermit related episodes incorporating Franciscan monks and scenes from a Court that we cannot fully identify. The third and final strip, around the Lobos da Silveira coat of arms, flanked by laurel towers, displays battle scenes. The decoration is the very quintessential of Portuguese silver: powerful in its narrative character and with a genuine horror at emptiness reflected in the considerable number of rows and countless figures and representations.