Religious jewelry is jewelry rooted in tradition: jewelry of baptism, beliefs, they are often medals, pendants. One finds there under various representations the Virgin Mary, Christ on the cross, the various Saints (Saint Paul, Saint Antoine, Saint Joseph) but also the dove, the Holy Spirit, the regional crosses. Ideal for a gift of baptism, the small medal of religious occasion will be always a pretty present which one keeps all his life.
French victorian cross pendant in 18 karat (750). Small religious cross called ‘croix bâton’, it is made of hollow gold. The arms of the cross are smooth and decorated at the ends with a sphere and a point. The top part is shaped like a fleuron and holds a ring for wearing as a pendant. Antique cross, early 19ᵉ century, French regional jewellery, Brittany.
Art Nouveau Virgin Mary medal in 18 karat yellow gold. Antique medal with the profile of the Virgin Mary, in a polychrome enameled frame, decorated with flowers on the four corners. Art Nouveau religious medal, circa 1900, France.
Eagle head hallmark (french state hallmark for 18 karat gold), goldsmith’s hallmark illegible.
Height (including setting): 2.2 cm Width: 2 cm
Condition : Slight scratches from use, the medal is not engraved and can be engraved on request.
Badine Perpignan garnet cross in 18 karat rose gold. Antique pendant in the form of a cross with two elements: a knot at the top and a large cross at the bottom. The two elements are linked by four fine chains. The lower part of the cross is mobile. The entire piece is set with 33 garnets on red foils, cut in round, oval and drop shapes. This is a typical piece of jewelry from the Perpignan region. The term “badine” indicates that the lower part of the cross is mobile. French regional antique jewelry, Languedoc Roussillon, Perpignan, early 20th century.
Owl hallmarks (french state hallmark for 18 karat gold)
Dimensions: 10 x 5 cm
Size of largest garnet: 15 x 10 mm
Condition: small dents, scratches and oxidation
Weight: 11.45 gr
Further information: These jewels were often worn on a velvet or silk ribbon, as in the “Portrait de Clara Salamo à la croix badine”, Paris, 1880, painted by A.Legras (see photo)
Memento mourning ring in rose gold 14 karats (585). Memento mourning ring in navette shape. Under a bulging glass is an oval tray circled with gold bearing the initials JO for John Olding, embellished with half fine pearls. The medallion is set on a hairline background in a blue enamel surround with white dots. The shoulders, ring and underside of the plate are chiseled. On the reverse, the ring is inscribed: “Rev’d John Olding Oct 7, 1785 AE: 63”, indicating the identity of the person to whom this ring paid tribute. Antique mourning ring, called Memento ring, dating from the late 18th century, England.
This mourning ring is an English ring made in honor of Reverend John Olding (1722-1785), who died at the age of 63.
Ring acid tested with 14 karat gold
Finger size : 51 EU or 5.5 US (change is possible)
Dimensions of the ring head : 34 mm x 18 mm
Condition : scratches from use, two pearls out of their medallion, some lacks in the enamel
Victorian paste holy spirit necklace in silver. Antique silver necklace featuring round elements set with white paste stones in a closed setting, holding a Holy Spirit pendant also set with paste stones. The pendant depicts a dove with outstretched wings, head down. 19th century regional necklace, France.
Boar and VD goldsmith’s hallmarks.
Length: 43 cm
Pendant height: 7 cm
Width of pendant: 2.5 cm
Victorian Holy Spirit pendant in 18 karat yellow gold. This pendant features an embossed gold dove set with green faceted glass, above which is a diamond-shaped runner, also set with green glass. The gold is chased. The dove’s head is pointing down. Holy Spirit pendant, Napoleon III, circa 1880.
Eagle head hallmark (French State hallmark for 18 karat gold).
Antique Masonic brooch in silver. Masonic brooch featuring the Square and Compasses within a circle, set with rhinestones. The combination of the Square and Compasses forms a square within the circle, symbolizing matter surrounded by the spiritual. The reunion of body and spirit can be supported by the quest for the squaring of the circle. In Masonic believes, the Compass symbolizes spiritual measurement and the individual’s ability to keep their actions within the bounds of what is right and appropriate. It also represents the capacity for self-assessment and improvement. The Square, on the other hand, represents the virtue of living a straight and balanced life, while respecting moral and ethical laws. Antique brooch, circa 1900.
Swan hallmark (french state hallmark for silver)
Diameter: 26 mm
Condition: signs of wear
Weight: 3.76 gr
*The antique gold chain is not sold with the jewel*
Victorian micro-mosaic cross pendant in 18 karat gold. Cross pendant with micro-mosaic decoration featuring the words “PAX DEI” meaning “Peace of God” in Latin. In the center, a cross surrounded by two doves, and below, an anchor, an ear of wheat and white flowers. The micro-mosaic decoration is surrounded by a gold-beaded frieze. On the reverse, the cross is inscribed “Xbre M.R.R à M.R.C, 1868”. The anchor is a symbol of hope, but also of early Christianity. The wheat symbolizes Christ, who dies in order to be reborn; and the white flowers symbolize purity and the Virgin Mary. Christian religious pendant, dated 1868, made in Italy for France.
Italian hallmark: crossed keys and miter (active from 1815 to 1870) and eagle head hallmark.
Height (including bezel): 6.5 cm Width: 3.7 cm
Condition: the cross has been restored with a transparent resin to prevent the micro-mosaic from disappearing. This ensures legibility, but is not definitive and can be removed.
Weight : 11.05 gr
More informations : The “Peace of God” is a medieval movement whose origins date back to the 10th century and was intended to impose and guarantee peace for both religious and social reasons. It was mentioned on Italian Grand Tour objects in the 19th century.
Fannière Frères angel ring in 18 karat gold and silver 800. Antique ring with charming decoration, depicting an angel holding a ribbon. The angel is in silver, mounted on a gold ring soberly decorated with fine striations. The ring is signed on the inside. Ring made by the Frères Fannière, famous 19th-century silversmiths, circa 1870, France.
Fannières Frères signature, trace of eagle head, owl and swan hallmarks
More information : The company was founded in 1839 by François-Auguste Fannière (1818-1900) and François-Joseph-Louis Fannière (1820-1897), nephews and students of goldsmith Fauconnier. At once designers, sculptors, chiselers and manufacturers, they worked for leading Paris silversmiths such as Baugrand, Duron, Wiese, Odiot, Froment-Meurice and Christofle, then under their own name from 1862. The company was taken over in 1900 by François-Joseph-Louis Fannière’s son, then by Fernand Poisson. Few pieces of jewelry have survived.
Victorian French enamel foiled paste cross pendant in silver. This cross is in silver with filigree decoration, forming a cross adorn with paste faceted pink glasses on spangles meant to have a look of pink topaz. A black enamel decoration with white dots covers the entire pendant. A glass bead adorns the upper part of the composition. The bezels are completely closed. French work from the beginning of the 19th century
Enameled Swiss antique locket in 14 karat gold. Antique opening medallion with enamel decoration on a guilloché background depicting a lamb at the foot of the Cross, bearing the inscription “INRI”, meaning the Latin words Iesus Nazarenus Rex Iudaeorum, i.e. “Jesus the Nazarene King of the Jews”, whom Pilate had placed on the Cross. Jesus, also known as the “Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world”, is likened to a sacrificial lamb. The contours of the medallion are decorated with fine half-pearls and black enamel. The reverse of the pendant is decorated with chasing and black enamel forming hearts around a rhombus. The locket can be opened to conceal a photograph. It can be worn either way. Antique opening pendant, circa 1880, Switzerland.
Trefoil hallmark for the clasp in 9k, the rest tested 14 karats
Height (including setting): 42 mm
Width: 27 mm
Depth: 9 mm
Condition: tiny missing at bottom left, fine scratches
Large amethyst cross pendant in 18 karat (750) yellow gold and silver. Large religious cross to be worn as a pendant, set with 19 round facetted amethysts and paste white stones. Religious ceremonial jewellery, late 19th century, southern France or Italy.
Owl and swan hallmarks (French State hallmarks for 18 karat gold and silver).