Perhaps you are asking yourself, What is a Spanish Retablo?
I had no clue myself until one vacation year we went to Arizona, visited a Spanish mission, and from that day forward both Mike and I have been very inspired by the Spanish culture, arts and history.
Here is a little brief history on a retablo:
Retablos, better known as ‘laminas’ in Mexico, are oil paintings on tin, wood or copper which were used in home altars to venerate the almost infinite number of Catholic saints. The literal translation for ‘retablo’ is ‘behind the altar.’
These are just a few examples of these beautiful pieces.
Mike happened to find a beautiful one on Ebay for our home, all hand carved and such detail.
We have had this piece for 8 years now, we love it, and to say it is a WOW conversation piece is an understatement, when people see it, they are very curious.
Most people have never seen one.
Let me share our retablo.
Enjoy!
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| Found an old chippy tin shelf to go under the Retablo |
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| Lighting was purchased at different times. First light from Miami, Fl, and the second light, at a local thrift shop here in the Carolinas’s |
Hope you enjoyed your history lesson, and a thrifty light buy.
That is a gorgeous piece and I love the history behind it. How lucky to have found a piece like that! I loved our visits to Mexico and all the culture..and all the school children dressed in their little perfectly white school uniforms. The culture is just fascinating. xxoo Diana
Debbie that is such a beautiful piece!! I love how you added the shelf under it with candles. From the picture I thought the shelf was wood it's so pretty! Martina
I love that, I can't believe you are just showing it to us. Looks great!
How pretty is that!
That really does make a statement! It's beautiful with all of the details! Very nice! WOW! ♥
Growing up in New York and having Roman Catholic family members there was often a small alter in all my relatives homes. That one is beautiful.
Wow! The lights are awesome. And the retablo is gorgeous too. Very unique pieces for a unique gal!
It's beautiful. There is a Mexican artist who creates very intricate Retablo's and diorama's out of potatoes, which sounds gross and a bit blasphemous, but they are are stunning and you would never, ever know they are potato. Maybe that's how the indigenous people made them originally? Don't know.
Yours is absolutely stunning.
Thank you for the very interesting history. I've seen these before, but never knew what they were officially called. Love the way you decorated around it too.
Art that is. Thanks for the history of the gorgeous piece.
I love that and thanks for the history on those. Such a great piece.
Wow, what a beautiful piece! I've never seen anything like it. I can understand why it's a conversation piece.
This is a gorgeous piece. Don't you just love eBay? Thanks for adding the info about the Retablo; very interesting. Love your shelf and candles too. It's a fabulous presentation. Peggy
I have an affection for architectural church salvage, though I don't have any retablos.
Come see my Corpus that I bought on Craigslist! It came from an old church in Wisconsin of all places!
I love your blog!
~Andie
Very nice piece. Your home is so lovely and sounds like it has such great memories attached to each piece you bring in. The best way to make a house a home.
It's gorgeous! I've never seen one like that before… It's huge! I love the tin shelf with the candles. I have one with the little drawer to give thanks 🙂 I think they're all beautiful.
What an interesting and gorgeous collection. While in central Mexico a few years ago, I was so captivated by all the retablos there!
I love your last picture. Don't you wonder who's hands had carved these masterpieces?
Yvonne
I grew up in New Mexico so I'm very familiar with retablos and santos. They can be very ornate and beautiful. You're very lucky to have one, Deb! Love your lighting, too. 🙂 Sue
That piece is absolutely amazing! The color and detail are just beautiful! Thank you for sharing and teaching us a little bit about it!
What a wonderful piece! The history of Retalbo's is very interesting. I am half Mexican and was went to Catholic school up through the university level and had never heard of them. I have even visited many Spanish missions having lived in California. Guess I wasn't paying attention!!!
Very unique piece …I have never seen anything like this before!!
That is really a gorgeous retablo, Debbie. I have a lot of them in Europe and Russia. I would love to have one but I have not seen any with a lot of saints in one that is for sale….Christine
I have seen retablos here and there, mainly in the Scottsdale area & they were very expensive. I never saw any as nice as yours. Love the shelf you found to go under it. Nice touch adding the candles. I like those light fixtures, too.
CAS
So pretty! And I learned something!
Kelly
I am so glad you shared all this! I saw some of these in Tucson a couple years ago and we bought a few of them to decorate my friend's second home out there. I had not idea what the story or history was behind them.
Thanks Debbie!
I love to learn about these things.
xx
Alison
Debbie I'd never heard of retablos before. Thank you for enlightening me! How beautiful! I think I could easily become obsessed….course that doesn't take too much with me!LOL! *winks* Vanna
Wow Debbie, that is gorgeous, I can see where it is a conversation piece. I have my post all ready for the party!!
Carol
I love Retablos, your Home is lovely and the light fixtures have me positively swooning!
Dawn…The Bohemian
Very beautiful and unique! Not sure how I've been missing your blog, but I'm following along now! Looking forward to getting to know you!
Beautiful!
Good Morning Sweet Friend…
I love your gorgeous Retablo. The shelf and the prayer candles are a beautiful addition. Living in Phoenix, I have seen a few on my travels around the state and you will find some gorgeous ones on some of the small missions.
So lucky to have found one sweet friend. Thank you for sharing. I love touring around your beautiful home.
Country hugs and much love, Sherry
Debbie, that is absolutely beautiful! The colors are gorgeous and it just seems so perfect for your home along with those fantastic lights. Everything you do seems to truly reflect you and what you love! 🙂
Vanessa
Debbie I really loved this piece and thanks for the history lesson on these..Your chandy are just beautiful and so glad to see the not matchy matchy thing everyone seem to think you have to have..Love ya my Dear young friend..Hugs and smiles Gl♥ria
Yes, I have heard of them, and they are beautiful!! Yours is no exception! It is stunning! And the shelf, and lighting with it are amazing!!!
I will actually be participating in your color my world party!!! I had to spray paint the cabinets in my new studio!!! Sweet!!
xxDaniella
Debbie, this is gorgeous. I went to Mexico way back when and we got to go to a lot of churches and missions. The detailing and gold around the detailing was amazing. I love the style and always love when you show some of your collection:)
What a lovely, interesting piece. 🙂 I would love it if you would link up to my Marvelous Mess party!! I will pick one project to feature on my sidebar for a week!! http://marvelouslymessy.blogspot.com/2011/03/marvelous-mess-5.html
Deb,
That is a magnificent piece! Stunning!
Hugs,
Debbie
Debbie,
The Spanish Retablo is very pretty and looks perfect in your home.
Dee
Debbie, those lights are pretty amazing and I love that shelf with all of the detail.
Where have you been hiding this?? It's so cool. Thanks for sharing at my Swing into Spring party.
Thank you SO MUCH for linking up to WHASSUP WEDNESDAY!!! Great entry:)
Hope to see you next Wednesday!
xoxokara
So beautiful!
Fabulous piece. I love when people focus on a couple of really unique pieces and have them as the love objects in their house. Too many places are filled with cookie cutter rooms.