Decorative ornament - Santander - Spain - Coat of Arms





€18 | ||
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€15 |
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This Spanish antique Santander heraldic shield, estimated to date from 1750–1800, is carved from wood with stucco and traces of polychromy.
Description from the seller
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 coat of arms features a composition closely linked to Santander’s historical arms, represented through their most distinctive elements: the fortified tower, alluding to the city’s defense, and a vessel sailing on the water, symbolizing the maritime and commercial calling of the Cantabrian port. At the top are also the heads of the martyrs Saint Emeterius and Saint Celedonius, the city’s historic patron saints and a recurring motif in Santander’s heraldic iconography.
The piece stands out for its richly carved baroque scrollwork and volutes framing the central field, creating a highly ornamental composition. Traces of the original polychromy and stucco remain, with bluish tones predominating in the background and gold on the raised details. The patina, wear, and losses bear witness to a long history. The surface treatment points to a handcrafted work probably intended to adorn a civic building, a vessel, a manor house, or a space associated with local government or maritime corporations.
The pointed heraldic field concentrates the composition’s symbolic force in a naïve yet expressive depiction, characteristic of many examples of popular heraldic art in early modern Spain. The remnants of stucco and gilding applied to the wood enrich the relief and add visual depth, while the pronounced erosion of the polychromy lends the piece an appealing historical authenticity.
This is a notable example of decorative Spanish heraldry from the ancien régime, bringing together sculpture, painting, and municipal symbolism in a work of considerable ethnographic and collectible interest, particularly associated with the history and maritime tradition of Santander and the Cantabrian coast.
Insured shipping and careful packaging.
Seller's Story
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 coat of arms features a composition closely linked to Santander’s historical arms, represented through their most distinctive elements: the fortified tower, alluding to the city’s defense, and a vessel sailing on the water, symbolizing the maritime and commercial calling of the Cantabrian port. At the top are also the heads of the martyrs Saint Emeterius and Saint Celedonius, the city’s historic patron saints and a recurring motif in Santander’s heraldic iconography.
The piece stands out for its richly carved baroque scrollwork and volutes framing the central field, creating a highly ornamental composition. Traces of the original polychromy and stucco remain, with bluish tones predominating in the background and gold on the raised details. The patina, wear, and losses bear witness to a long history. The surface treatment points to a handcrafted work probably intended to adorn a civic building, a vessel, a manor house, or a space associated with local government or maritime corporations.
The pointed heraldic field concentrates the composition’s symbolic force in a naïve yet expressive depiction, characteristic of many examples of popular heraldic art in early modern Spain. The remnants of stucco and gilding applied to the wood enrich the relief and add visual depth, while the pronounced erosion of the polychromy lends the piece an appealing historical authenticity.
This is a notable example of decorative Spanish heraldry from the ancien régime, bringing together sculpture, painting, and municipal symbolism in a work of considerable ethnographic and collectible interest, particularly associated with the history and maritime tradition of Santander and the Cantabrian coast.
Insured shipping and careful packaging.

