Napoleon III Reliquary Medallion of the Crowned Virgin and Child in Meerschaum, 1800s

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Description

Napoleon III Reliquary Medallion of the Crowned Virgin and Child in Meerschaum

Born from religious craftsmanship during the France of … Read more Napoleon III Reliquary Medallion of the Crowned Virgin and Child in Meerschaum

Born from religious craftsmanship during the France of Napoleon III (1851-1870), this charming little reliquary frame is composed of a bas-relief of the crowned Virgin Mary and the infant Jesus Christ, presented from head to toe in high relief, carved from a semi-friable stone called "meerschaum." The whole is protected by a twisted metal frame and curved glass, keeping it safe from the elements.
As you can see, this wall relic is in a near-perfect state of preservation, a rare occurrence for a devotional object over 150 years old made from a particularly friable material. They were made in France by members of churches during the Empire to finance their projects or churches/convents, using the expertise passed down from church members.

Generally passed down from generation to generation in Catholic families, these charming relics are meant to be placed on the wall of the owner's bedroom, to bring them protection and blessing. Today, they await the arrival of a new family or person of the Catholic faith.

Lovers of devotional objects from the Second French Empire period, or wall relics, don't wait any longer and treat yourself to this superb frame depicting the Virgin and Child!
Dimensions:
→ Height: 9 cm
→ Width: 7 cm
→ Depth: 2.5 cm
→ Weight: 80 grams See less