This item has SOLD** Antique 19th Century French Religious Gilded Bronze Crown
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***THIS ITEM HAS SOLD***This is an spectacular example, originating from an old and fine religious crown collection in Paris. It dates circa 1870, from the era of Napoleon III.
In the 1940's, French Catholic churches were ordered to remove anything "unnecessary" in ornamentation within the parish. This resulted in many extraordinary and fine accessories being taken from the church and either destroyed or sold in to the antiques market. Each surviving example of these beautiful adornments is a special piece of history, preserved by many hands.
This is a royal crown, destined for a very large Santos statue of the Enfant Jesus. It is entirely cast in bronze with a wide lower channel onto which five arched bands form the shape of the crown. The channel has a repeating design of curving arabesques. Red crimson and turquoise glass stones are bezel set (12) at the center.
Each curving band has a cast cut work design of repeating flowers which descend in size from the top to the bottom. The first band attached to the channel is supported by two stylized fleur de lis flower. Each flower has a central bezel set rose crimson stone. Both rose crimson and turquoise glass stones are bezel set in the four shorter bands. The large band at the center supports the globe and cross. It repeats the crimson rose and turquoise glass stone design with fleur de lis at the base. The cross which sits atop the original globe is set with rose and turquoise stones (one stone missing).
There is a central curved bar at the inside center which holds the long pin which would have attached to the Santos statue for security. The crown measures: 6 3/4" tall, 4" in diameter at the base, 18" in circumference at the widest point. The central band measures 1 3/4" wide at the center. It is in very good antique condition, retaining it's brilliant gilded patina. The form is sound and correct. It retains the original globe and cross (one stone missing on cross). Please study the photos as they are indeed the best description.
These exceptional examples are becoming absolutely impossible to find in today's market.
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