The central room of the south morada also displays a number of benches of an earlier style (Figure 25). Over the rear door appears an unusual cross (Figure 26). The cross consists of two wood planks, 1.6 centimeters thick, notched together and covered with paper. The surface bears carefully drawn, or perhaps stenciled, floral and religious designs in indigo blue: eleven Latin crosses appear among flowering vases, oversize buds, and 4-, 5-, and 8-pointed stars. These motifs probably are the result of copying from weaving or quilt pattern books of the late 19th century. A local penitente leader stated that the cross was made before 1925 by Onésimo Martínez of Abiquiú, when the latter was in his thirties. (The strong religious symbolism of the New Mexican designs reminds one of the stylized motifs on Atlantic Coastal folk drawings and textiles of Germanic origin.)
Figure 25. Bench (banco). Size: 128 centimeters long, 106 high at back, 45 wide. Location: South morada, center room.
(Figure 26 is frontispiece.)
Snare drums appear in the central room of both moradas (Figures 27, 28). The drum in the east morada is mounted on top of a truncated wicker basket. It is interesting to note that rifles and drums commonly are recorded in mission choir lofts in 1776 by Domínguez.[57] In addition to marking significant moments in church ritual, they are used in Indian and Hispano village fiestas.
Figure 27. Snare Drum (tambor). Size: 55.9 centimeters long. Date: 19th century. Origin: Imported to New Mexico. Location: East morada, center room. Manufacture: Commercially made, military type, rope lines with leather drum ears [tighteners].
Figure 28. Snare Drum (tambor). Size: 58.4 centimeters long. Date: 19th century. Origin: Imported to New Mexico. Location: South morada, center room. Manufacture: Commercially made, military type, reddish stain, rope tension lines with rope and leather drum ears [tighteners].
Before describing religious objects in the west end rooms of Abiquiú moradas, a list of similar items in Santo Tomás Mission at an earlier date (1776) is of interest: