Antique Holy water font - 1850-1900 - Holy water font

Elegant Napoleon III-style wall holy water font, made of bronze with a mother-of-pearl bowl. A devotional piece with great decorative appeal, distinguished by the rich ornamentation of its frame and the iridescent sheen of the mother-of-pearl.

The structure has a vertical composition topped by a cross with raised floral decoration. The central section features a colored oval image, surrounded by an elaborate openwork border of foliage, scrolls, and floral motifs. At the bottom, an ornament of stylized leaves links the frame to the mother-of-pearl bowl, whose metal rim is decorated with a band of small raised details.

The scene depicts the apparition of the Sacred Heart of Jesus to Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque, with Christ elevated above the clouds and the nun kneeling in an interior with ecclesiastical architecture. This iconography refers to the apparitions that took place in Paray-le-Monial, France, between 1673 and 1675, which helped spread devotion to the Sacred Heart.

The contrast between the warm tones of the bronze, the colors of the image, and the luminous sheen of the mother-of-pearl bowl lends the piece a striking presence. Its ornamentation and format make it an appealing object for collectors of sacred art, devotional objects, and historically inspired décor.