Escudo De Monja, Silk Embroidery, Mexico, New Spain, 18th Century.

Escudo de monja This escudo de monja, or literally "nun's shield", was a kind of devotional badge worn by the nuns of New Spain (the colonial territories of North and Central America ruled by the 'Spain). These insignia arose in response to reforms aimed at reducing the luxuries of convent life by prohibiting the wearing of devotional ornaments made of gold, precious stones or other precious materials. In accordance with, but also in defiance of, these reforms, nuns wore ornately painted regalia like this, which were often the work of the best artists of the time. This escudo de monja is exceptionally rare, normally they were painted in copper foil but in this case it is painted on very refined and detailed silk embroidery. The motif, the Holy Trinity at the top, in the center the Virgin Mary, in the left corner an Archangel and in the right corner and the lower part the Saints are represented to complement this extraordinary piece. Escudo de monja, Silk embroidery, Mexico, New Spain, 18th century. Condition: Good general condition, two small cracks on the frame. Dimensions: diameter 18.4 cm