Antique Napoleon III Religious relic of Saint Anne D’auray

Dimensions – Approx. 13cm high, 10cm wide

Why we love it - 

This exquisite small French oval medallion of "Sainte Anne d'Auray" features a cut-out paper image decorated with gilded metal embroidery, glass and the original brass frame. Highly collectable, and dating to the Napoleon Third Era, it wears its considerable age graciously, with minor dents to the frame, a small chip in the glass and dust speckles beneath the glass. Nothing in our minds eyes that detracts from its beauty. Overall, it is in good general condition. 

Saint Anne D’auray, mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is the patron saint of Brittany, France. Worshipping of St Anne is documented from the 6th century, as ancient texts mention a chapel in the hamlet of Keranna, ‘Ker Anna’ meaning village of Anna in the Breton dialect.  Saint Anne appeared in Keranna in 1624 to a young farmer named Yvon Nicolazic, asking to rebuild the chapel where she was once worshipped. She visited him again several times and led him to a wooden statue that marked the place where the new chapel had to be erected. Yvon Nicolazic built a first chapel on that spot but it was destroyed during the French Revolution after hundreds of miracles were recorded. Today there is a basilica on the site which receives an ever-growing number of pilgrims and worshippers.

Notes - All of our vintage pieces are in good working condition (unless noted otherwise) and show patina consistent with age, which adds to their beauty and character and is not considered a defect. Please carefully consider all the item images as they form part of our description and note that our vintage pieces are not refundable given their fragility and cost of shipping.