French Silver Monstrance, 19th century

Valuable 19th-Century French Solid Silver Monstrance, Hallmarked on the Rays and Base

Beautiful monstrance crafted entirely from solid silver. This valuable piece of religious craftsmanship was made in France in the 19th century and is in excellent condition. The monstrance bears hallmarks on the base and the rays of the sun, which guarantee the origin and quality of the silver from which it is made. All its parts are in very good condition, from the silver pieces with their profuse and detailed hand-carved ornamentation to the glass that encloses the viril-or capsule-where the Consecrated Host is kept. This part is called the "viril" because of the glass that encloses it, designed to protect and display the Blessed Sacrament.

The sun-or upper part-of this monstrance features a large number of rays of varying lengths that adorn the piece. Above, the monstrance is crowned by a Latin cross, while the viril is surrounded by a delicate circular gilded frame engraved with small spheres. Surrounding this frame and separating it from the rays is a section carved with small heads of putti or cherubs, full of charm and innocence. The shaft connecting the sun to the base also features magnificent carving: the section connecting it to the viril is decorated with clusters of grapes and vine leaves (symbols of the blood of Christ), while the knop features two putti heads, one on each side, with their corresponding wings. Both angels frame a depiction of the Sacred Heart on the front, while on the back we see an engraving that appears to depict the Tablets of the Law.

The base is adorned with detailed Baroque-inspired ornamentation, rich in volutes and decorative moldings, and on its front is engraved a gilded silver detail representing the Agnus Dei, or Lamb of Christ. On the back, we can see a triangle with three symbols engraved within it, representing God as the Holy Trinity. The monstrance features hallmarks on two of its parts: one of them, depicting a classical profile of the goddess Minerva, is engraved on one of the sun's rays. The other hallmarks are located on the base of the piece, where the effigy of the goddess is repeated alongside another mark.

The great intrinsic value of this monstrance, combined with its beauty and age, makes it an exceptional piece worthy of a museum of sacred art or the finest of collections.

Dimensions: Width: 140 mm. Height: 475 mm. Weight: 470 grams