As sanefas que todos querem

In a broad context of carving commissions by private individuals and religious people, there are some carved examples, remaining, in reserve and on display at the Aveiro Museum/Santa Joana, which intersect with other items identical to each other and inserted in different sacred spaces, constituting series of a specific model of carved and gilded «sanefas» from the rocaille period. Because of its specificity, we will pay special attention to a particular case of the design and production of pelmets1 by the master carver from Aveiro, Manuel Ferreira e Sousa «filho», who was active at the end of the 18th century (1775­1790) and who deserves particular attention because of the proliferation of this model, which was so coveted by everyone. This type of pelmet was commissioned in a wide circle of influence: in the Convent of São João Evangelista of the Discalced Carmelites of Aveiro, in the Convent of Jesus of the Dominican Sisters of Aveiro, in the Church of the Presentation in the parish of Vera Cruz in Aveiro and even, in a displaced way, in the Mother Church of São João do Loure, in the municipality of Albergaria­a­Velha.