Portable altar
Origin: Portugal.
Fifteenth century.
Material: Wood, wrought/forged iron and altar stone.
Lenght: 1050 mm, height: 340mm, width: 570 mm.
MM.05223
According to tradition, this altar accompanied Vasco da Gama on his first trip to India aboard the carrack São Gabriel. When closed, the altar resembles an ark. It is placed on a 770-mm high table-shaped structure. This piece was inventoried by official order of December 31, 1951, by the Secretary of State for National Education.