Small Painted Wooden Devotional Shrine—late 18th Century

A charming little home shrine made of softwood,opening through an arched glass door that still has its original lock.
The interior, painted a beautiful sky blue, is designed to hold astatuette—in this case, a 19th-century metal representation of the Sacred Heart. Thiscolor, frequently used in folk-style niches and oratories, symbolically evokesthe celestial sphere and particularly highlights thesculptures it houses.
The piece as a whole has a beautiful patina from use,bearing witness to its long presence in a devotional setting.
This type of oratory was placed in a bedroom or amain room, housing a statuette of the Sacred Heart, the Virgin Mary, or apatron saint.
A folk art object, both simple and moving.
The figure of Jesus is 22 cm tall, including its wooden base.
The niche measures 35 cm high by 30 cm wide by 18 cmdeep.