A dated, hand-engraved devotional medal straight from Belle Époque France. Its Gothic shrine-shaped frame — pinnacles, slender columns, and diamond-lattice tracery — encloses a haloed Christ Child with open arms, crowned above by the Agnus Dei bearing its cross. A piece as pious as it is graphic.
Type: Religious pendant medal Period: Belle Époque, dated 1913 Material: Solid silver, 800 silver mark Dimensions: 34 mm (height) x 15.8 mm (width) / 1.34" x 0.62" Weight: 3.3 g Origin: France Condition: Good antique condition, natural wear patina
The relief is crisp and well preserved: the side pinnacles, the pierced rosette, and the diamond tracery of the niche background are all finely rendered, a sign of quality striking. On the reverse, a hand-engraved monogram interlaces two initials, followed by "8 MAI 1913" — most likely a First Communion keepsake, a common engraving for gifts given to children in early May in pre-war France.
Worn on a slim chain or as a fob pendant, this medal also holds its own in a collection of antique religious medals or a curiosity cabinet.
It will appeal to collectors of antique religious jewelry, lovers of French Belle Époque antiques, and anyone seeking a gift with real meaning and history.
An authentic piece with a dated, monogrammed engraving and unmistakable Gothic styling — it's rare to find such a complete example, with its original date and initials still intact.
Blending religious devotion with Belle Époque refinement, this solid silver medal is a standout find for collectors of French antique jewelry, communion medals, and early 20th-century devotional pieces.
