Antique Nineteenth Century French Benetier with Eglomise Scene and Mother of Pearl Font

A hanging small benetier, it originates from just outside of Marseille, France and dates towards 1890.

Benetiers such as this were placed in private devotional corners. This one is especially lovely and was purchased in the past at the beautiful Cathedrale of Lausanne, Switzerland. Throughout the Middle Ages, pilgrims flocked to the cathedral to pray before the Golden Virgin, a miraculous statue of the Virgin Mary (to whom the cathedral is dedicated). (Construction on the cathedral began in 1175 and it was consecrated in 1275 by Pope Gregory X. It was completed in, well, never - it still remains unfinished today).

The eglomise scene depicts the Golden Virgin with a young lady kneeling in prayer to the statue. A pretty pastoral scene with grazing sheep and the great Cathedrale give a reflective, prayerful ambience. The eglomise glass is set into a beautifully delicate gilded brass frame. A one inch wide cut gilded brass frame repeats the design of arabesques and fleur de lis. The mother of pearl font is held by a gilded bronze mount of cascading petals. There is a gilded brass mount at the top of the font. A large cross serves to hold the hanging ring at the top.

It measures:5 3/4" tall, the eglomise medallion 2 1/4" x 1 1/4", the mother of pearl font 2" x 1" It is in very good antique condition: the eglomise scene retains all detailing, the mother of pearl is not cracked or chipped, the gilded brass could be polished but we chose to leave the original patina.

It is one of the loveliest benetiers that we have had the fortune to find. The history combined with the beautiful elements of construction make it a true treasure.