A Monumental 16th Century Carved Coat Of Arms

This amazing armorial panel is carved with a lion and sword to the left top corner a lamb (Agnus dei ) to the right five crowned lions to the bottom right a cross and flag to the left bottom corner and three fish to the center with dragon supporters and a chalice at the helm.

I am leaning towards this being Italian ecclesiastical with the lamb of god and chalice but research is on going to try to place a family name, the lamb with sun is the crest for the AGNINI family and the three fish the BALBI family 

In Italy only the noble class was entitled to bear coats of arms. The kings rewarded persons who performed a heroic deed or notable achievement or who held a prominent position in government by granting them a noble title and the right to use a coat of arms. 

Deeply carved and naive in design a chunky piece of wood that certainly makes a statement.

Signs of restoration as expected with a good colour and faint traces of gesso and polychrome.

Height 43.5" (110 cms)

Width 27" (68 cms)