The Extinction of the Religious Orders, by decree of the Portuguese Liberal government, dated 1834, had a devastating impact on the works of decorative arts present in the monastic spaces of Lisbon. With this paper we aim to discuss the various destinations that the art of woodcarving had in 1834 and in the years that followed. The replacement of altars from the churches of the religious orders to the parish ones, the auction sale, the abandonment or destruction were the most immediate solutions to deal with this heritage. A more accurate view of the mechanisms and the persons involved in this process, particularly those responsible for acquisitions for the Portuguese museums, notably the National Museum of Ancient Art, will allow us a further reading of this complex process.