Santiago de Compostela, Antonio de Arfe, 1539-1545 and 1573. Gilded silver

As it was the case of other Spanish cathedrals, in 1539 the Cabildo gave the prestigious Arfe workshop in Valladolid the task to create a monumental monstrance, for which purpose the second brother, Antonio, would travel to Compostela. The making of this piece was extended over six years and it was finished some time later, in 1573, with the creation of its pedestal and sanctuary. This type of monstrance, of Plateresque style, became to be used since then as a model for many others that were made throughout Spain at the time; and it is still used as a processional monstrance during the celebration of the Corpus Christi.