This item has SOLD**LARGE Antique French Gilded Brass Sacred Heart Reliquary Ex Voto

***This item has sold***The patina of this large sacred heart is simply magical. It originates from the south of France and dates towards 1880.

It has an extra pronounced and thick form. It is of cast brass which has been heavily gilded. The face bears the Christogram for Jesus Christ, "JHS". The initials are fancifully engraved with tiny hand tooled marks within each letter; the letters seem to have the form of wooden twigs, which references the crown of thorns. Delicate lilies and leaves flank the large Christogram; meeting at the bottom center to form a bow of leaves. The outer edge of the top half has a delicate raised beading formed by tiny half globes. The flame has deep groves and a very thick center.

The back of the voto opens with a thumb latch. The interior is heavily gilded. It measures: 5 1/4" tall x 2 1/2" wide and sits 1 1/4" tall from the tabletop. It is in very good antique condition, it could be polished to a higher patina if wished.

Sacred Hearts which are engraved with any other initials other than "M" for Mary are very rare in today's market. This is a spectacular and large example, which was cherished and guarded throughout history. This enabled it to have survived the hardships of time and arrive to us, in modern days, in a beautiful state of conservation.