Monstrance - Silver, Ivory - 1750-1800 - Processional monstrance - 47 cm

Rare Ostensoir-Soleil de Procession in Silver and Ivory – Naples, c. 1799 & 19th century

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Elegant and rare portable procession monstrance-sun, combining a remarkable repoussé silver monstrance from the late Baroque period with a finely turned ivory shaft. This sacred art object testifies to the historic upheavals in Southern Italy at the end of the 18th century and the ingenuity of 19th-century artisans who worked to preserve it.

The Monstrance (18th century): The Neapolitan School at the heart of History

The upper part (the glory) is made of solid silver, chased and repoussé. The central casing, adorned with delicate cherub heads in pronounced relief, is surrounded by straight rays alternating with flame-like rays, all crowned by a delicately worked cross.

The lip of the lunette bears the official hallmarks of the Commune House of the city of Naples (NAP letters under an open royal crown) as well as the mark of a Consul-Assayer (Saggiatore).

The crushed strike and the traces of manual filing on the inner stem place this piece around 1799. This pivotal year corresponds to the fall of the Bourbons and the ephemeral Parthenopean Republic. In the face of metal requisitions by the French troops, the low fineness of the alloy (producing slight verdigris at the base) and the alteration of the royal marks are typical of emergency productions during this period of civil war.

The Ivory Shaft (19th century): A prestigious transformation for processions

During the 19th century, to save this precious sun spared from revolutionary melts, a workshop of goldsmithing and carving transformed this altar monstrance into a portable model intended for processions (such as the Feast of the Corpus Christi).

The original mounting stem was carefully trimmed with a file and engraved with a workshop assembly cross to fit perfectly into a magnificent turned ivory grip with baluster-shaped moldings. This noble material offered the priest a ceremonial, isolating, and dignified grip for the Blessed Sacrament during long rites under the canopy.

Possible ownership and historical context

Although no engraved coat of arms allows a definitive nominal attribution, the double dating of the object opens fascinating historical avenues for collectors:

- The great Confraternities of Neapolitan Nobility: Very powerful at the end of the 18th century (similar to the Arciconfraternita della Trinità dei Pellegrini), these bodies had the funds to commission prestigious goldsmithing just before the 1799 crisis.
- The refractory or exiled clergy: The transformation in the 19th century with a high-end portable handle suggests a commission by a leading church or a high-ranking ecclesiastical dignitary to restore to life a masterpiece saved from Napoleonic spoliations.

Technical Sheet & Condition

Era: Neapolitan Monstrance (circa 1799); Shaft and remodeling 19th century. Materials: Solid silver, internal copper alloy, turned ivory (presence of natural Schreger lines).

Dimensions: Total height 47 cm; Gross weight approx. 1 kg.

Good overall condition with signs of use, slight deformations, and old marks consistent with liturgical use. One of the lunette’s glass panes is cracked.

Due to the presence of antique ivory, this item will be accompanied by a CITES certificate No. 2026/BE01738/CE for any transaction requiring this document.

Photos are an integral part of the object descriptions and complement the presentation. Please examine them carefully before any engagement.

The item will be carefully packed and shipped with tracking number to ensure fast and secure delivery.

Happy bidding