Antique Blessed Virgin Mary Standing on Snake - Freestanding

Code: RS116

Dimensions:

Antique Blessed Virgin Mary Standing on Snake - Freestanding Papier Maché Statue of Mother Mary c.1900s - RS116

Beautifully made, this is an antique Paper Maché or pressed Wood Pulp statue of The Virgin Mary, Mother of Christ. The statue, from France, was formed in the late 1800's,  is freestanding and measures 10" or 25.5cm in height, including the 'bronze' coloured plinth. 

This very delicate statuette is lightweight and gorgeously detailed made to look like carved wood. Due to the age, there are some areas of crazing to the original varnish and the base layer of paint used on the figure, two hundred years ago. The whole statuette is formed with superb detail; the folds of Mary's gown and cloak have a truly fluid look to them; her face is very peaceful, with eyes downcast. There is some rubbing to Her nose and around her veil where She has been handled, over the years - but in reality this adds to the lovely antique patina of the piece.

Mary is standing on a small mound with a snake visible beneath her feet. The snake represents evil, or Satan - Mary is often depicted in this way because her entire life has been one of victory over the devil. In the very beginning of the Bible, in Gen 3:15, God says to the serpent:
“I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”    The Douay-Rheims translation (an older Catholic translation of the Bible from 1609 AD) says that “she” will bruise the head of the serpent, not “he”. This means that it is the woman that will destroy the devil, not her seed. 

We are lucky here in Ireland: as you travel the roads and lanes of Ireland you will see lots of beautifully statues of Our Lady the Blessed Virgin;  many clear water springs are dedicated to her and called Lady Wells. 

Dimensions are: Height 10" or 25.5cm; width 4" or 10cm and Depth of 3" or 7.5cm. The unpackaged weight is 250 grams.

Your purchase will be carefully packed in recycled wrappings where possible and despatched by An Post or Courier Service. 
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