Pitcher. Baroque, 1631. MAN. Inventory No.: 2002/57/1
Neither urns nor ballots: the Honourable Council of the Mesta made many of its decisions by lot, through the old custom of insaculation. In the assemblies, the parties of Soria, Segovia, Cuenca and León wrote their votes on small slips of paper, kept them in silver balls, three of which are also preserved, and placed them in this silver pitcher, dated 1631. Then, an innocent hand drew out the winning ball.
The material wealth of this pitcher demonstrates the power attained by the Council of the Mesta, whose coat of arms is engraved on the central part. This corporation, created in 1273 by Alfonso X, brought together cattle breeders and shepherds of León and Castile, and defended their interests until its disappearance at the end of the 19th century.
Among its responsibilities, it stood out for regulating the network of cañadas, cordeles and veredas along which the flocks passed seasonally in search of pastures and more favourable climates. The layout of these livestock routes shaped land use and the configuration of the landscape; many remain in use today and are considered authentic ecological corridors and a perfect example of the survival of livestock traditions.
© Ministerio de Cultura - Gobierno de España