This lectern, from the National Museum of Ancient Arts in Lisbon, is made in the 16th century, probably in China, Macau. In the 16th century this object, including two other objects, was brought back into the town of Vidigueira in Portugal. The three objects had been commissioned by André Coutinho, a Portuguese trader who later became a Catholic priest.
Taking the form of an X-shape, the lectern is foldable, covered with silver plaques, engraved, chased and repousséd. What we see at the front are two saints, Saint Paul and Saint Peter. Both of them are flanking a crucifix. At the back we see four evangelists, and the IHS monogram, the emblem of the Society of Jesus. ---------- Lectern. Probably China, Macau, around 1580. Silver, wood. Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga, Lisbon
View similar amazing works of art at ACM's Christianity in Asia: Sacred Art and Visual Splendour. Now until 11 September 2016, at the Asian Civilisations Museum.