Monstrance 1646 - 1649

This 17th century Monstrance, a vessel used to display the consecrated Host in Catholic Mass, was crafted by Spanish silversmith Diego de Atienza. The gold-plated silver piece features an elaborate, sunburst-shaped design with blue enamel accents that would have held a circular crystal or glass disc. The intricate details of the piece showcase Atienza’s skilled craftsmanship and the aesthetic preferences of the Baroque period. This specific Monstrance is currently housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.