Silver collection plate, Vilahur, Spain, 18th century

Antique silver collection plate (Plato petitorio) from Spain. Used in church as a collection or alms plate. A round hole on the side has been filled in, which might have originally held a stick.

It is a special plate with a beaded rim and fully engraved around the entire circumference with the Catalan text:

DNA GERONIMA PVIG I QVINTANA DE VILAHVR I DNA MARIA LVCIA PVIG I QVINTANA DE VILAHVR MARE I FILA DONAT I FET LO ANI 1810
And: Dona GERONIMA duiz de vilais ot 10 Ano 1683 or 1883

The plate was therefore donated by the aforementioned women. The place Vilahur still exists.

The plate is marked with two different hallmarks: DC with a cross and the letters IP. Possibly an early city hallmark from Girona, but I have not been able to trace the master silversmith. On the rim of the plate there is another inscription which suggests that the plate could also date from 1683 and was later donated to the church in 1810.

The plate is entirely hand-hammered.

An ornament was once attached to the small rod in the center, which is now missing.

Weight: 508 grams. Diameter: 30 cm.