Antique French Cobalt Blue and Gilded Brass Candle Shade Votive Ornament

An impressive antique French ornament, the cobalt hue of the central glass is absolutely radiant with the light transcending through. This ornament originates from Paris, France and dates circa 1880.

Candleshade ornaments were used to bring glowing color and light to adorn an altar or statue niche. They were prevalent in France and Italy throughout the 19th century and still remain in some of the older and larger churches. They entered into the antiques market over the past 100 years as, one by one, the smaller parishes were dismantled due to lack of attendance. The ornaments would have stood on a brass/bronze votive stand or would have been hung with a chain and suspended up high were the light was even more pronounced.

The frame is a cast metal work of gilded bronze, with four rounded leaf shapes (the religious symbolism for this is faith, hope and love). The inside leaf space is filled by very delicate gilded hand cut flowers and stylized fleur de lis. At the edge of each leaf frame is a row of bezel set, faceted sapphire (1/4") glass stones. There is a diamond shaped row of bezel set clear crystal stones which outline the central glass wafer. The wafer is set into a 1/2" gilded brass mount which has tiny "teeth" to hold the wafer (one missing tooth at bottom right).

The central cobalt colored glass wafer has a clear monogram, "AM" (for Ave Marie) with a rising cross. This has been hand painted on the reverse side which gives a clear and slightly opaque appearance to the monogram. There is a Maltese cross rising from the top which is set with four clear glass stones and a central cobalt blue stones. At the back bottom is a mounting tube which would have slid onto a stand.At the top is a mounting arm for threading a hanging chain.

It measures: 5 1/2" x 3 3/4" x 1/2" thick. It is in very good antique condition; the gilded patina remains brilliant, the frame is solid, all stones are present, no cracks or chips to the cobalt glass. There is one missing brass "tooth" bezel set at the bottom point of the diamond shaped sapphire blue glass.

We rarely see ornaments of this quality in today's market. It has the countenance of fine jewelry and would have brought a precious bit of resplendent light into a dark parish church interior.