Silver-plated Virgin Of El Pilar, Hallmarked In Aladren (zaragoza), 19th Century

Dimensions: 65 cm tall.
Our Lady of the Pilar is one of theoldest and most revered Marian titles in Spain and Latin America. According totradition, on January 2, A.D. 40, the Virgin Mary appeared tothe Apostle James on the banks of the Ebro River in Zaragoza to encourage him in hiswork of evangelization at a time when he was feeling discouraged. The Virginappeared on a pillar or column, a symbol that gave thistitle its name and around which the famous shrine in Zaragoza was later built.This event is considered by Christian tradition to be the firstbilocation in the history of the Church and gave rise to a devotion that,over the centuries, has spread throughout the world.
The Aladrén jewelry store, located at No. 25 Alfonso I Street inZaragoza, was one of the city’s most remarkable luxury establishmentsat the end of the 19th century. The building was designed in 1885 by the architectLuis Aladrén Mendívil, at the initiative of Mariano Baselga, who wished to createa store in keeping with the tastes and aspirations of the newZaragoza bourgeoisie.
The establishment stood out for its meticulous artisticand ornamental design, featuring a corner facade conceived as a veritableurban showcase. Its display windows were framed by decorative panels ofembossed and gold-plated silver, adorned with plant motifs, while themain entrance and the imposing metal canopy featuring a clock reinforced thestore’s elegant and prestigious character.
Beyond its architectural value, the Aladrén jewelry store hasgained great prestige as a center dedicated to the creation ofhigh-quality gold and silverwork and jewelry, thus becoming a benchmark forluxury craftsmanship in Zaragoza. It is within this context that we shouldplace the creation of the Virgin of El Pilar, the subject of this study—apiece that reflects the Aragonese devotional tradition combined with thetechnical and artistic excellence of the Aladrén workshop. Its hallmark serves as aguarantee of origin and links the work to one of the mostimportant jewelry establishments in Zaragoza during the late 19th and early20th centuries.