Blessing box; Spain, 20th century. Silver. Presents... Lot 147

Blessing box; Spain, 20th century. Silver. Presents marks. Measurements: 22,5 x 11 x 4 cm. Weight: 181,40 g. The blessing boxes are utensils that contain a container with holy water and are used to make the sign of the cross or to sanctify oneself. They are a domestic version of the holy water basins found at the entrance of churches, evoking the water fountains traditionally found in the surroundings or inside religious and magical places. In their popular domestic use they are usually placed next to the entrance door or in the bedrooms and serve for their owners to sanctify themselves when they go to bed or get up. They can be defined as small plates or plaques, generally oval, on which various motifs have been carved or molded and decorated. In their lower front part they include a shallow recipient destined to contain holy water.