Antique French Champleve Enamel Holy Water Font Fabulous antique French Napoleon III to Belle Epoque era (1850s to 1914) Holy Water font or benitier as the French call it. It features colorful and ornate champleve enamel on gilded bronze cross & matching water font, mounted on pale green onyx plaque with a brass plate backing! The gorgeous and colorful champleve enamel features a 'Christogram' at the center of the cross surrounded by multi-color floral and foliate motif. A Christogram is an ancient way of writing the word 'Jesus Christ.' In the early centuries of the Church it was a secret symbol, often etched on tombs of Christians. Then in the 15th century, Saint Bernadine of Siena went on a preaching campaign to promote reverence to the Holy Name of Jesus and encouraged Christians to put IHS on the doorways of their homes. A century later in 1541 Saint Ignatius adopted the monogram to represent his newly founded order, the Society of Jesus. The gilding of the bronze cross & font is vibrant and in marvellous condition. Very good to excellent condition, age considered. Whether it's the devotional or decorative aspects that you find alluring, this Holy Water font for home devotion is a fine example of religious art.