Reliquary - Silver, Glass, Textile - 1850-1900 - Saint John Gabriel Perboyre - Saint Vincent de Paul

• Item type: Religious object / Highly collectible reliquary
• Era / Dating: Late 19th century (Post-1889 period / Circa 1890-1900)
• Material: Solid sterling silver (stamped)
• Purity grade of material: High-quality silver (If the stamp identifies as 800 or 925, use that; otherwise select "High-quality solid silver")
• Country of origin: France (Manufacture by the Mother House of the Lazarists in Paris)
• Conditions: Excellent preservation – Genuine antique piece with splendid original patina of the time. Solid structure, bright gold filigree and 100% intact sealing wax.
• Dimensions: Height 2.5 cm (excluding the top hook) × Width 2.0 cm × Thickness 0.5 cm
• Weight: 3.3 grams
Description of the Lot
Extraordinary and exceptionally rare Catholic medallion reliquary (ovoidal binary reliquary), a masterpiece of devotion and Lazarist goldsmithing from the late 19th century. Entirely crafted in solid silver, worked by hand and stamped.
A lot intended for elite collectors and investors in sacred art, distinguished in the market for its total integrity and the incredible historical significance of the figures it houses.
The Value of Historical Chronology (From Blessed to Saint):
The object can be scientifically dated to the decade following 1889. The cartouche bears the title "Beato Perboyre" (Blessed Perboyre). Saint Vincent de Paul was solemnly proclaimed Blessed by Pope Leo XIII in 1889 and later Canonized (proclaimed a Saint) by Pope John Paul II in 1996. The fact that the inner case has been sealed and designated with the title "Blessed" confirms that the original manufacture occurred exactly within that window of time spanning the late 19th century and the very early 20th century. This chronological peculiarity certifies the era of the case and prevents modern reproductions, elevating the piece’s historical value.
The Preciousness of the Goldsmithing:
This lot sits in a value range well above ordinary 19th-century reliquaries in brass or silver-plated metal for three fundamental reasons:
• Noble metal: The outer case and the linking ring are in stamped solid silver, preserved with their precious original patina that attests to the authenticity of the centuries.
• Bulino-engraved artistry: The back of the reliquary features a superb calligraphic monogram in full Liberty/Art Nouveau style, with the intertwined letters "VP" (Vincent / Perboyre) entirely hand-engraved with a burin by a master goldsmith.
• Inner weave in gold filaments: The front shows two geometric textile reliquaries laid on a lavish hand-embroidered background with bright twisted gold threads, creating a splendid honeycomb-like luminous pattern.
Lives of the Saints and the Contemporary Link with Wuhan:
The medallion unites ex-indumentis reliquaries (fragments of original fabric) of two pillars of the Missionary Congregation (Lazarist Fathers):
1. Saint Vincent de Paul (S. Vincent de P.): The giant of Christian charity of the 17th century, pillar of service to the last, here represented by a geometric fragment of light-colored fabric.
2. Saint John Gabriele Perboyre (Bti Perboyre): The brave Lazarist missionary who chose to live his faith clandestinely to evangelize Imperial China. Betrayed for money, he was imprisoned, tortured for months and finally martyred in Wuhan (modern Wuchang district) on September 11, 1840. He was executed by slow strangulation tied to a cross-shaped gallows. The brown/reddish fabric fragment kept in the case comes, according to the order’s tradition, from the typical Chinese traditional garment the saint wore to blend in and in which he faced execution in Wuhan.
Contemporary connection: In recent years, Perboyre’s figure has sparked enormous international controversy among historians and collectors. Having died in Wuhan from suffocation and lack of air (total deprivation of air), the first saint of China has become the officially invoked figure by faithful worldwide as a special intercessor and protector against Covid-19 and severe acute respiratory conditions, creating a powerful emotional bridge between his 19th-century calvary and recent global history. This has generated a strong rediscovery in collecting and a reevaluation of all his relics on the world market.
Unbroken State of Preservation (Maximum Collectible Value):
What makes this lot a museum piece is its total integrity. On the back of the inner block is preserved the original red ecclesiastical wax seal from the General Postulator of the Order in Paris. The seal is 100% intact and traps four intact red silk threads, offering an absolute, official, and indivisible guarantee of ecclesiastical authenticity and inviolability of the contents. The wax also rests on a fragment of an ancient liturgical text printed in Gothic characters.
An exceptional historical and economic investment, in its original, untouched condition.
The reliquary contains no human remains.
This object is offered exclusively for its historical, cultural, or decorative value. No religious significance is claimed, implied, or asserted.