Unusual LARGE Gilded Hammered Bronze Napoleon III Era Gilded Religious Santos Crown

A unique Belgian example, it originates from Brugges and dates from the period of Napoleon III, circa 1860.

The crown was made at by a master craftsman hand worked in a professional atelier. This genre of crown is specific to the date, with thick and stylized ornamentation with a heavy hand hammered band. The structure of the crown begins with 1” wide band which serves as a mounting channel for exquisite glass stones. Each stone has very fanciful bezels which are adorned with flowers and fleur de lis. They are set into the crown with a bending brad which pulls through a slot in the band and folds over in the back. (the right green stone band needs to be pulled though and bent more) This type of stone mount was used for a very brief period, from 1850-1870. The glass stones are emerald, rose, sapphire and citrine.

The large curved face is a handsome repousse brass work which features a stylized vase holding fanciful fern leaves. Large flowers flank to the left and right. The leaves of the flowers raised bands and the center of the flowers consists of a small half globe. At the top center front is a three globe finial. From this point the height of the crown cascades downward with arabesques, acanthus leaves and scrolls. Continuing to the back, there is a band with two holes of adjustment.

It measures 5 1/4” tall--cascading to 2”:, 5” in diameter (in first notch). The stones are large, 1/2” - 3/4”...beautiful original old glass stones. It is in amazingly good and sound antique condition (we have not polished it). The metal reflects colors from the room; the bits of green you see here and there are reflections.

It has an extraordinary presence due to the abnormally large full brass front panel. With the utmost in quality of materials and workmanship this dynamic crown was most likely a custom order, fashioned for a specific life sized statue of the Virgin Mary.

This crown was found in a collection in Brugges, Belgium, and is of a quality that is impossible to find in today's markets. It is an exceptional work of religious ornamentation.

ITEM IDMT1080