Antique French Religious Souvenir Bell | Gilt Lattice, Picture Medallions, Alabaster Base

Antique Religious Souvenir Bell with Picture Medallions

Such a charming and unusual little bell.

Celebrating Our Lady of Lourdes, beautifully adorned with intricate religious imagery and ornate metalwork.

At its center stands a delicate figure of the Virgin Mary, surrounded by circular medallions depicting sacred scenes associated with Lourdes, including the famous basilica and Marian apparitions.

A dome of pierced gilt metal lattice rests on a round white alabaster base, and around the top sit beaded round medallions, each framing a tiny colored print under glass: a religious scene with a robed figure among roses, and views of a church and town. Cast leaves and grape clusters climb between the medallions, and a coiled spring mechanism sits beneath a cast figural finial. 

Souvenirs like this were made for pilgrims to carry home from the great shrines around the turn of the last century, and today they are a lovely find for anyone who collects religious and devotional antiques. The soft green patina on the leaves and handle adds to its old-world character. It would look wonderful on a desk, a bookshelf, or grouped with other devotional pieces.

Details

Origin: France
Period: Late 19th to early 20th century
Material: Gilt metal, printed medallions under glass, alabaster base
Form: Desk bell with pierced lattice dome, picture medallions and figural finial
Approximate Measurements

Height: 4"
Base diameter: 3.5"

Condition

Antique condition with wear to the gilding and verdigris patina to the cast leaves and handle consistent with age. Medallion prints and glass intact. Rings clearly. Normal wear to alabaster base.

A sweet piece of devotional history with a lot of personality.