Not on display

This object consists of 8 parts, some of which may be located elsewhere.

Cresting

1520-1530 (made)
Artist/Maker
Juan Frances (makers)
Place of origin
Ávila (city) (made)

Wrought iron thistle cresting, part of a screen or reja.

Object details

Categories
Metalwork
Architectural Fittings
Religion
Christianity
Ironwork
Object type
Cresting
Parts
This object consists of 8 parts.
(Some alternative part names are also shown below)
  • Cresting
  • Cresting
  • Cresting
  • Fragment
  • Cresting
  • Fragment
  • Cresting
  • Fragment
  • Cresting
  • Fragment
  • Cresting
  • Fragment
  • Cresting
  • Fragment
Materials and techniques
Wrought iron
Wrought Iron
Forging (Metal Forming)
Brief description
Thistle cresting, wrought iron, from a screen or 'reja', by Juan Frances, Avila Cathedral, Spain, 1520-1530
Physical description
Wrought iron thistle cresting, part of a screen or reja.
Gallery label
(07/1994)
PART OF A SCREEN OR REJA
Wrought iron
Spain; early 16th century

SPANISH CHURCH SCREENS

The Church has always played an important role as patron of ironworkers, and no more so than in 16th century Spain. Huge rejas (screens) from this period still adorn many Spanish churches and cathedrals, serving to divide the liturgical spaces, most particularly the altar, choir and side chapels. Though often large in scale, some as much as 9 metres high, their makers used difficult and physically demanding techniques, often having to work the metal when cold. The common appearance of the maker's name included in the scheme suggests that these rejas were considered as masterpieces of the craft. They showed the latest ornamental vocabulary, and were topped with bold arabesque figures, scrolls and coats of arms, heightened with gilding and colour.

The portions of screen from Avila Cathedral displayed here and in Gallery 29A were made by Juan Frances, whose proud inscription adorns one of the crestings. Frances was working at Toledo Cathedral as early as 1482. He also made the screen for the choir at the Church of Alcala de Henares. The pulpit dated 1525 at Avila, of embossed and gilded iron, may also be his work.
Subject depicted
Thistles (Plants)
Associated objects
Bibliographic reference
Baur-Heinhold, Margarete. Schmiedeeisen : Gitter, Tore u. Geländer. München : Callwey, 1977. 176 p., ill. ISBN 3766704079 Fig.169
Collection
Metalwork Collection
Accession number
281:1, 2-1879

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Record createdJune 24, 2009
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O380042/cresting-juan-frances/
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