Onyx & Cloisonné / Champlevé Wall Holy Water Font

Onyx & Cloisonné / Champlevé Wall  Holy Water Font - French Bénitier - Solid Brass and Green Onyx Holy Water Font - RB107

A gorgeously decorated Holy Water Font for the home, made in the late 1800's. This Bénitier comprises three distinct parts: the Holy Cross and the Vasque, or Lidded Font are made from Gilt finished solid metal with Champlevé enamelling - the pattern for the enamels has been outlined in Gilt metal and then filled with coloured enamels - in this case the main colour is two shades of Blue with highlights in White, Pink and Red. The Vasque has a Gilt hinge for the shaped, enamelled lid with a white enamel interior. 

The Cross and Vasque rest on a thick cross of solid Green Onyx or "Onice Verde" - a beautiful natural material of just under half an inch thick. At some point in the items rich history there has been a repair made to the Onyx where there appears to have been a crack, very professionally filled and only visible at an angle under the light. 

The Onyx is supported by a solid sheet of brass at the back, slightly larger in size than the Onyx so that it forms a small frame all the way around.

The item, made in the late 1800's is now over two hundred tears old and does show signs of age and use; there are areas where the Gilt is fading but overall, despite the repair this is in exceedingly good condition for the age. We have not cleaned and part so there is a layer of grime to be lifted from the Brass backing and the entire font would benefit from a gentle clean.

This font or bénitier was purchased from a collector in San Remo in Italy. It is quite apparent that this has been a very expensive item at the time of initial purchase and that it has been well loved. 
Height 9.5"; Width 5.6 " and depth a maximum of 2". The weight without any packaging is exactly one kilogram.

Your purchase will be carefully packed in recycled wrappings where possible and despatched by An Post or Courier Service. 
                                                                *** THE PRIC INCLUDES INTERNATIONAL TRACKED DELIVERY ***