{"product_id":"antique-french-holy-water-font-1","title":"Antique French Holy Water Font","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"body-text\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA striking example of 19th-century French domestic piety, this wall-mounted holy water font — known in French as a \u003cstrong\u003ebénitier de maison\u003c\/strong\u003e — would have held pride of place at the entrance of a Catholic household, allowing the faithful to bless themselves upon entering or leaving the home.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe central relief is a tour de force of devotional craftsmanship: a \u003cstrong\u003ewinged angel\u003c\/strong\u003erendered in silver-toned spelter kneels reverently before a Latin cross, arms outstretched in adoration, robes falling in classical folds. Behind the figure, dramatic gilt sunrays burst outward from the cross in every direction — a visual symbol of divine light and glory. The detail is exceptionally fine, from the feathering of the angel's wings to the delicate halo crowning her head.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"feature-panel\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt the base, a scalloped shell-form basin — the traditional vessel for holy water — is rendered in matching silver and gilt, with a scrolled golden acanthus flourish anchoring it to the plaque. The entire assembly is mounted on a shaped cartouche of deep navy fabric-covered board, its silhouette echoing the Baroque altarpiece tradition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe two-tone finish — cool silver figures against warm gilt rays — is characteristic of quality French religious metalwork of the \u003cstrong\u003eSecond Empire and Third Republic\u003c\/strong\u003e periods (circa 1860–1900), when such devotional objects were produced by specialist Parisian and regional ateliers for both household and church use.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe piece retains its original fabric board backing with honest age to both the textile and the metal. The relief casting is crisp and undamaged, with a beautiful natural patina. Ready to hang — a devotional object of genuine artistic merit that works equally as a collector's piece or a meaningful sacred accent in any interior.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e15” tall x 7.5” wide \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Swan Hill Home","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48519678918875,"sku":null,"price":375.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0683\/0466\/6843\/files\/7ACC25AC-6BC8-4911-A97B-C8D37C1180EE.jpg?v=1774648471","url":"https:\/\/swanhillhome.com\/products\/antique-french-holy-water-font-1","provider":"Swan Hill Home","version":"1.0","type":"link"}