Decorative ornament - Santander - Spain - Coat of Arms

An interesting piece of popular and municipal heraldry, carved in wood and polychromed, probably made between the 17th and 18th centuries, or inspired by models from that period. The shield presents a composition closely tied to the historic arms of Santander, represented by its most characteristic elements: the fortified tower alluding to the defense of the city and the vessel sailing on the waters, symbol of the port’s maritime and commercial vocation. At the top one can also discern the heads of the martyrs Saint Emeterius and Saint Celedonius, historical patrons of the city, a recurring motif in Santander heraldic iconography.

The piece stands out for its rich carving of Baroque scrolls and volutes framing the central field, creating a highly ornamental overall. The decoration preserves remnants of original polychromy and stucco, with a predominance of bluish tones in the background and golds in the reliefs, whose patina, wear, and losses attest to a long historical evolution. The treatment of the surface reveals an artisanal execution probably intended to preside over a civil building, a vessel, a manor house, or some space linked to local administration or to corporations related to the maritime sphere.

The heraldic field, with a pointed profile, concentrates all the symbolic force of the composition through a naive yet expressive representation, characteristic of many popular heraldic works of modern Spain. The remains of stucco and gold applied to the wood enrich the relief and provide visual depth, while the pronounced erosion of the polychromy gives the whole an attractive historical authenticity.

This is a notable example of Spanish decorative heraldry from the ancien régime, where sculpture, painting, and municipal symbolism converge in a work of great ethnographic and collecting interest, especially linked to the history and maritime tradition of Santander and the Cantabrian coast.

Certified shipment and good packaging.