Limoges box: circa 1960s–1980s
Devotional medals: circa early to mid 20th century, likely 1930s–1950s
Box: Limoges, France
Medals: France and likely Britain / English speaking Catholic devotional tradition.
A pair of vintage Catholic protection medals held within a hand painted Limoges porcelain box.
Two small devotional medals, each created to accompany its wearer into moments of uncertainty, danger and fear.
The first depicts Saint Christopher, the ancient patron invoked for protection during journeys. On its reverse are the French words:
Catholique en danger de mort je demande un prêtre.
“Catholic in danger of death, I ask for a priest.”
It is an extraordinarily intimate object: not simply a medal of protection, but an identification carried on the body so that, in the event of accident or mortal danger, a stranger would know the wearer’s final wish.
The second carries the same intention in English:
I am a Catholic. In case of accident or illness kindly notify a priest.
Together they belong to an almost vanished tradition of Catholics carrying small objects that spoke for them when they could no longer speak for themselves.
The medals are paired here with a vintage hand painted Limoges porcelain box, its slender form decorated with flowers, turquoise and gold latticework and finished with a tiny brass bow clasp. Inside, the white porcelain creates a quiet chamber for the two medals.
Not a reliquary in the canonical sense, but a vessel for two objects that once held something equally invisible: a person’s instructions for the threshold.
Materials
Hand painted Limoges porcelain, gilt decoration and brass mounts; silver tone devotional medals, likely base metal or plated metal.
Important Note
Each item is one-of-a-kind, all purchases are final, no refunds or exchanges. Please note the shipping options at checkout.
Limoges box: circa 1960s–1980s
Devotional medals: circa early to mid 20th century, likely 1930s–1950s
Box: Limoges, France
Medals: France and likely Britain / English speaking Catholic devotional tradition.
A pair of vintage Catholic protection medals held within a hand painted Limoges porcelain box.
Two small devotional medals, each created to accompany its wearer into moments of uncertainty, danger and fear.
The first depicts Saint Christopher, the ancient patron invoked for protection during journeys. On its reverse are the French words:
Catholique en danger de mort je demande un prêtre.
“Catholic in danger of death, I ask for a priest.”
It is an extraordinarily intimate object: not simply a medal of protection, but an identification carried on the body so that, in the event of accident or mortal danger, a stranger would know the wearer’s final wish.
The second carries the same intention in English:
I am a Catholic. In case of accident or illness kindly notify a priest.
Together they belong to an almost vanished tradition of Catholics carrying small objects that spoke for them when they could no longer speak for themselves.
The medals are paired here with a vintage hand painted Limoges porcelain box, its slender form decorated with flowers, turquoise and gold latticework and finished with a tiny brass bow clasp. Inside, the white porcelain creates a quiet chamber for the two medals.
Not a reliquary in the canonical sense, but a vessel for two objects that once held something equally invisible: a person’s instructions for the threshold.
Materials
Hand painted Limoges porcelain, gilt decoration and brass mounts; silver tone devotional medals, likely base metal or plated metal.
Important Note
Each item is one-of-a-kind, all purchases are final, no refunds or exchanges. Please note the shipping options at checkout.
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