Pair Of Eagle-shaped Lecterns. Bronze, Iron. 16th-17th Century (and Later).

Pair of eagle-shaped lecterns. Bronze, iron. 16th-17th century (and later).
Pair of lecterns with a tripod base, claw-shaped feet with spheres, and a triangular section from which three baluster-shaped feet emerge, with elements in light tones that meet in the upper part of this piece, leaving a vegetal form towards the lower part. The finials are two eagles on spheres, each facing to one side, head inclined upwards, and situated with wings half-spread; the back is smooth, without the details of feathers, eyes, beak and claws seen on the front. The eagles could be of the Spanish or Dutch school, dated to the 16th and 17th centuries, while the bases date from the 20th century. It seems that, at least in Spain, the spread of raised lecterns took place from the 14th century onwards, as they were important objects for the words contained in the books, on the one hand, but also and above all because of their use to support the Missal in the presbytery of churches (previously it was held by the acolytes and, from the 9th century onwards, it was placed on a cushion on the altar), in full view of all. This also led to an increase in their use in civil contexts. To the existing variants, from the mid-15th century onwards, a lectern was added whose inclined plane supports the text and which depicts an eagle with outstretched wings, sometimes with a haloed head and, in some cases, with an open beak, named after the name of the animal it represents. One of these lecterns is preserved in the Cathedral of Cuenca, another in the parish church of Villanueva de los Infantes (Ciudad Real), others are in private collections, etc. It is also worth remembering its frequent use in Protestant churches, with some quite remarkable works from the Victorian era. It is often thought that the presence of the eagle is linked to Saint John and his Gospel, or that it refers to an allegory of the greatness and elevation of the Word, but it must be borne in mind that it was also a bird identified with the sun (it was thought that its life flowed continuously under its rays) and with the idea of masculine activity (strength, power of flight...). It is frequently named in sacred texts with an allegorical meaning (Divine Protection, Christian Church...) or by assimilating the flight of the bird to divine protection and design (Exodus 19,4: You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I carried you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself), or by linking it to the Resurrection (verse 5 of Psalm CII which says "My youth will be renewed like that of the eagle"). Let us recall, for example, that the Beatus of Liébana affirms that the eagle is the Church, and that the wings are the two Testaments, thanks to which it flies in the sky, or that Dante describes the bird as "of God". The supports are later.
Weight: 125 kg. - Dimensions: 44x50x181 cm