The Penitente Moradas of AbiquiúAhlborn, Richard E.
History
The Penitente Moradas of Abiquiú
Ahlborn, Richard E.
Abiquiu (N.M.) -- Religious life and customs; Hermanos Penitentes -- New Mexico -- Abiquiu; Moradas -- New Mexico -- Abiquiu
[Illustration: FIGURE 45. SAINT JOSEPH AND CHRIST CHILD (_San José y
el Santo Niño_). SIZE: frame 45.7 centimeters high. DATE: Fourth
quarter of 19th century. ORIGIN: Imported commercial products.
LOCATION: South _morada_, chapel wall. MANUFACTURE: Plaster frame,
molded and gilded. Chromo-lithograph on paper. SAINT PETER (_San
Pedro_). SIZE: frame 25.4 centimeters high. DATE: Third quarter of
19th century. ORIGIN: Imported, commercially made print. New Mexico,
unidentified tinsmith. LOCATION: South _morada_, chapel wall.
MANUFACTURE: Tin frame: cut, repoussé, stamped, and soldered.
Chromo-lithograph on paper.]
The tin frame for a lithograph of St. Peter reveals repoussé designs
found on east _morada_ frames (Figure 30, center). Other examples of
local tinwork are seen in Figure 46. On the right is a cross of
punched tinwork with pomegranate ends and corner fillers that reflect
Moorish characteristics in Spanish arts known as _mudéjar_. The frame
dates from after 1850, as indicated by glass panes painted with floral
patterns suggesting Victorian wallpaper. To the left is a niche made
of six glass panels painted with wavy lines and an early 19th-century
woodcut of the Holy Child of Atocha. Here again, twisted half-columns
repeat a motif seen on a tin frame in the east _morada_ chapel. In
front of the draped entry to the south _morada_ sanctuary stand two
candelabra, one of which is shown in the doorway to the oratory
(Figure 47) with tin reflectors and hand-carved sockets.[75] There are
also vigil light boxes, kerosene lanterns with varnished tin shades,
commercial religious images and ornaments that are similar to items in
the east _morada_ sanctuary.
[Illustration: FIGURE 46. NICHE WITH PRINT OF CHRIST CHILD (_Nicho_
and _Santo Niño de Atocha_). SIZE: 35.5 centimeters high. DATE: Second
half of 19th century. ORIGIN: New Mexico, unidentified tinsmith.
LOCATION: South _morada_, chapel walls. MANUFACTURE: Tin frame: cut,
repoussé, and soldered. Glass: cut and painted. Woodcut on paper.
CROSS (_cruz_). SIZE: 43.2 centimeters high. DATE: Fourth quarter of
19th century. ORIGINS: New Mexico, unidentified tinsmith. LOCATION:
South _morada_, chapel walls. MANUFACTURE: Tin frame: cut, repoussé,
and soldered. Glass: cut and painted.]
[Illustration: FIGURE 47. CANDELABRUM (_candelabro_). SIZE: 157.5
centimeters high. DATE: Early 20th century. LOCATION: South _morada_,
in front of altar in oratory. MANUFACTURE: Mill-cut wood stand,
hand-carved pegs to hold candles, and hand-worked tin crosses. Painted
white. One of a pair.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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