Escudo de Armas (Coat of Arms)

High relief sculpture depicting coat-of-arms of Manila or the Philippine Governor General. Classified as a heraldic lintel piece, the item is usually mounted on the walls or roofs of palaces, government buildings, or on the lintels of gates to fort complexes. The elements of this particular heraldic piece has striking resemblances to the Royal Spanish royal coat of arms for the Palace of the Governor General of the Philippines.

From personal communication with Regalado Trota José (August, 2023) the fleur-de-lis in the centre of the escudo denotes the Bourbon dynasty, which came into power in the first years of the 18th century. Most likely, this would have been put up by Fernando Valdes Tamon, who worked on fortifications in Manila and many other Philippine islands.  This particularly escudo could have been taken from one of the gates in Intramuros in 1762. After the British left in 1764, a new set of engineers rebuilt the principal gates to Intramuros with new lintels and  least two are from the 1780s, and have rococo elements.

From Prof Victor Torres ( August 2023) confirms that the fleur de lis in the middle is likewise indicative of the Bourbon Dynasty as the the earlier seals don't have it. The fleur de lis was added when Spain came under the rule of Bourbon dynasty under Philip V.

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Images

Map    The Government Museum, Chennai

Date

c. early 18th century

Origin

Manila, Philippines

Materials

According to the Museum records, this piece is made of bronze. Upon physical examination by Mapping Project researchers, the material seems to more likely be of hardwood coated with reddish glaze. The relief sculpture is mounted to the wall with iron clasps.

According to HP Lovelace from Vestiges of Madras:

The chief results of the expedition, so far as Madras was concerned, were the erection of a Manila Trophy at Fort St. George, and the addition of a set of volumes to the Government records. Tradition asserts that the trophy, now dismantled, was placed near the Arsenal gates; but as the Arsenal was not begun until 1770, the Artillery Park is perhaps indicated. The trophy was flanked by two fine Spanish cannon dating from the beginning of the seventeenth century. These guns, with others of Danish and Mysore origin, occupied until lately a position on the parade-ground. They are now in the Madras Museum, where fragments of the trophy itself are stored though not exhibited. ( Page N 630 Volume 2 Vestiges of Old Madras)

Physical Dimensions

132.5 cms × 110 cms (about 4.34777 feet × 3.60892 feet )

Provenance

Museum records indicate that this piece was transferred from the Madras Arsenal Fort St George in Chennai to the Government Museum of Chennai in 1894. The original arsenal records show that the escudo was "taken from the gates of Manila during the expedition in 1762 when the town was captured by Madras troops. "

Acquisition Date

c. 1763-1765

Display status

On permanent display

Collection

The Government Museum, Chennai

Cite this Page

“Escudo de Armas (Coat of Arms),” Mapping Philippine Material Culture, accessed April 28, 2024, https://philippinestudies.uk/mapping/items/show/29341.

Geolocation

Related Items

Bronze Plaque for Escudo de Armas (Coat of Arms)17th c Spanish Cannon (named San Pedro)17th c Spanish Cannon ( San Lorenzo)Spanish Armouries taken from Manila in 1762


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