A small piece of history resting in the palm of your hand.
This antique heart-shaped medal, crafted in vermeil (gold-plated solid silver), reflects the quiet elegance of French religious jewelry from the late 19th century. Its front bears a chalice topped with a radiant host, framed by delicately engraved flowers, while the back is inscribed with a monogram and the date 16 June 1898 — most likely marking a First Communion. Compact, dense, and rich in meaning, it appeals equally to lovers of antique jewelry and collectors of religious art.
Type: Heart-shaped religious medal
Period: Late 19th century (dated 1898)
Material: Solid silver vermeil (gold-plated)
Dimensions: 25.7 mm x 22 mm (approx. 1.01 x 0.87 in)
Weight: 2.5 g
Origin: France
Condition: Light surface scratches consistent with age, gilding softened in places, hallmark present on the bail
The central motif, a chalice and radiant host framed by flowering stems, is worked in gentle relief with a crispness that speaks to careful hand engraving rather than mass production. The smooth, even heart outline and the shaped bail reinforce that same sense of quality. On the reverse, the intertwined monogram and the hand-engraved date of 16 June 1898 root this medal firmly in a specific tradition: First Communion gifts offered within French families at the close of the 19th century, when vermeil allowed the warmth of gold to be given at a more accessible cost than solid gold.
Worn alone on a fine chain, added among other medals on a charm bracelet, or kept safely in a drawer of keepsakes, this piece settles easily into daily life or into a curated collection.
This medal will appeal to collectors of antique jewelry, lovers of French religious art and Communion medals, and anyone searching for a meaningful gift for a christening, First Communion, or birthday.
Its authenticity, engraved date, and hallmark make it a rare find, carrying a family history that no modern reproduction can replicate. It is a fragment of heritage, ready to be passed on once again.
An antique French heart medal in vermeil, engraved 1898, decorated with a chalice and host framed by flowers: a genuine piece of French religious jewelry, both a collectible and a First Communion keepsake, ready to begin a new story.
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