‘Abat-voix’ Pulpit Canopy c.1625

A huge and incredibly carved High Baroque ‘abat-voix’ pulpit canopy, or sounding-board. c. 1625 This outstanding piece of baroque architectural carving featuring gigantic Acanthus leaves and a cluster of gessoed and gilded grapes, would have been suspended above the pulpit in a Catholic Church or Cathedral. Having a practical purpose, which was to bounce and amplify the voice of the Priest whilst giving their sermon, but also was thought to protect the purity and scarcity of the Pulpit. Similar architectural features can be found in Porto Cathedral, Portugal.