Antique French Champlevé Holy Water Bénitier - Hand Painted

Antique French Champlevé Holy Bénitier -  Hand Painted Virgin Mary with Enamelled Holy Water Font or Bénitier - c1900's - RB105

This is an antique French decorative religious item that is nothing short of superb. A wall plaque, backed in brass with a facing of White Marble, supports brass plaque with enamel-filled filigree work at the centre of which is a stunningly beautiful painted portrait of the Virgin Mary on porcelein over a Holy Water Font.  This is such an intricate piece that each time we look at it, we notice another detail. 

THE PORTRAIT: an oval ceramic cartouche carries the hand painted portrait that is just 2.5" (6cm) high. She is wearing her blue hooded robe with her hands clasped together, drawing the robe to her. Her eyes are downcast and her face carries a look of resigned, sad serenity.
THE BRASS INNER PLAQUE: is fashioned around the portrait with curling edges and the form of a cross at the top. Underneath the portrait, a Holy Water Font, or Bénitier forms the bottom of the plaque. The fret-worked brass of the plaque is filled with coloured enamels: blue, white and red in the main, that form leaves and flowers curling around the portrait. The frame of the portrait id a golden brass band with an outer brass twisted cord. 
THE HOLY WATER FONT: is part of the plaque, a small bath for Holy Water with a hinged lid. Both the body and lid of the Bénitier are of the same brass and enamel decoration. The inside of the Font is finished in white enamel; the base of the Font ends in an inverted finial.
THE WALL PLAQUE: is made of a solid brass backing, just slightly bigger than the white marble facing so that the marble shows a golden frame. There is a strong metal loop at the back, for wall hanging.

Dimensions: Height including base: 9" x width 5.25" x depth 2" (23 x 13.5 x 5 cm). This is quite a heavy item for the size - without packaging the weight is 0.85 kg.
THIS IS AN ANTIQUE ITEM IN PERFECT ORIGINAL ANTIQUE CONDITION

Your purchase will be very carefully packaged with recycled wrapping where possible and despatched via the Irish An Post postal service.
                                                          **** THE PRICE INCLUDES TRACKED INTERNATIONAL DELIVERY. ****