Description: This rare 1800's French antique pilgrimage rosary has been a mystery for me for such a long time because the rare medal attached to it was unreadable. It took a loupe, peeping through this oxidised medal on a very bright sunny day for long hours outdoor and an extensive research about this medal for me to know what it is. This rosary is made of antique opaline beads, a very rare antique glass medal and all metal components are all in sterling silver. This hallmarked antique glass medal is marked NOTRE DAME DE ORCIVAL. Unlike antique bubble glass medals usually made with mercury interior, this sterling silver medal's interior is of gold-tone which suggests that the interior of the medal is gilded. This medal is truly old, and thus has suffered some 'accident' during its lifetime but it is part of this rosary. The medal has oxidised thus was hardly readable but left untouched. Opaline beads were made in France in the early 1810 to 1890.....thus a true collector of antique rosaries should have at least one. By opaline, we mean white, opaque or slightly translucent glass that we see in this rosary. Opaline glass as in these beads became very popular around 1850's to 1860's during the reign of Napoleon III. Opaline glass beads were no longer produced after 1890s. To appreciate it further, these opaline rosary is large at nearly 20 inches. Opaline glass is made with a high content of lead (just like crystal) which defines it as semi-crystal, thus there is a slight weight in this rosary.Part of my excitement in learning about rosaries is knowing why people go to a pilgrimage. As I have learned, each church/cathedral attracts pilgrims for a particular reason/s. This rosary is dedicated to the Notre Dame de Orcival in Auvergne, France. The obverse side of the medal features the Madonna and Child while the reverse side features the Crucifixion. The 12th century Virgin and Child statue in this basilica is made of walnut wood and dates back to 1170. The statue is covered in silver leaves and in vermeil (gilded silver). The Madonna is presented in Middle Ages form where the Virgin sits in majesty, she is seated on a chair while the Child Jesus sits on her lap with the Child holding a book in one hand (representing the Holy Scriptures). The Virgin presents the Child to the world without touching him but by simply framing him with her hands. The Child Jesus is childlike in size but the face is almost like an adult. My research points that the Auvergne region has about eight churches where the Mother and Child has more or less the same characteristics, the Virgin and Child seated in majesty, the Virgin do not touch the Child or hardly touching him. Sometimes the hands of the Virgin is oversized, as she is not the center but the Child is. Her hands suggests she is the Mother of the Child (she is the Theotokos) but the Child spreads the word. The Notre Dame de Orcival was built between 1146 and 1178. In the 11th century, there was a church to the east of the town that housed a venerated statue of the Virgin which legend claimed it was carved by Saint Luke. The current Romanesque building now housed this venerated statue. The basilica's wesite says that 'the life in the Middle Ages in the village of Orcival was dynamic and rich. It counted in its chapter 25 canons which attests to the importance and income associated with them.' This basilica also benefited from the generosity of the lords around it. The Lord of Orcival, Gilbert de Chabanne had the privelege to have the the family tomb built in the crypt. (Incidentally, an image of Gilbert de Chabanne and their 'La Palisse is also available online). Since 1840, the Basilica of the Notre Dame de Orcival is classified as an Historic Monument because of its Romanesque architecture, with very few changes since it was built. It is also the annual pilgrimage site for Ascension Day where the statue of the Virgin and Child is clothed in gold and crown (which is perhaps the reason why the medal's interior is gilded) and carried in procession by men in bare feet towards the top of the mountain, to the stations of the Cross and finally to the Tomb of the Virgin. The church has also been a pilgrimage site to soldiers miraculously released in prison in 1945 and for those who were falsely accused. It was said that soldiers flocked to this basilica soon after their release to thank the Virgin for her intercession. Thus one side of the wall shows iron balls and chains. Thus, the Virgin is sometimes called Notre Dame de Fers (Our Lady of the Iron) for her intercession in the release of the prisoners. To those who are interested to make a pilgrimage, I think this basilica is a must including all the other Middle Ages churches with Virgin and Child in Majesty in the Auvergne region. To those who are interested, please see: 'Virgin and Child in Majesty'. Overall, this antique pilgrimage rosary has its own characteristic unique on its own. Please study the details of this rare rosary: Crucifix: is a 'puffed' crucifix made of sterling silver made to resemble the bark of wood. The cross itself would be made by skillful hands only, The corpus is soldered to frame. There is a slight 'bump' at the reverse bottom side of the cross. The bail bears a French Boar hallmark (800/100 silver (Paris Assay). Size: 4cm x 2cmMedal: is a very, very old medal with a Boar hallmark on the bail (800/1000 silver). The gilded image is enclosed in a locked sterling silver frame wih open lacework around it. The glass on the other side has a crack as shown on pictures which has caused corrosion on the interior. This medal is rare and has a value on its own despite its imperfection. The blurred image features the seated Virgin and Child in Majesty in gilded background. It is marked 'NOTRE DAME DE ORCIVAL PPN (Our Lady of Orcival Pray For Us). The reverse side features the Crucifixion while the Mother weeps at the foot of the Cross. Though the glass is broken, the glass is stable because it is protected by the frame. This medal is blurred and can perhaps be cleaned by a jeweller if you wish to but we all know that any antique's patina should be preserved. This oxidised medal looks worse in magnified pictures than in reality. Note that this medal is so rare as more latest medals pertaining to this basilica would have been marked as Notre Dame de Fers. This therefore attests to the old age of this medal. Size: 22mm x 15mm.Links; are made of double-links made of sterling silver. They sometimes kink but should not be a worry. If it kinks, just try to adjust the movements of the chains in a gentle manner and they will soon fall into the right place.Beads: are made of antique opaque opaline beads. They are approximately 8-9mm in sizes and being handmade are irregular in size and shapes.Centre Medal: is and antique 'puffed' medal with the symbol of an embossed cross on the surface. The cross is the symbol of faith. This is also in sterling silver. The lower bail where the hallmark would have been has been replaced by the previous owner sometime in history. But the center medal functions very well.Length: 50cm or 19 7/8 inches59 beads I will give a 10 % discount for a purchase of 3 different listings on buttons and fashion accessories. This promo is cancelled when another promo is on. If you have a particular requirement as to style, colour, use, size and others, please do not hesitate to let me know. For a quick search on buttons, please type in the ‘search’ box ANY OF THE FOLLOWING WORDS BEFORE THE WORD ‘button’ or ‘buttons’: coat, jacket, cardigan, blouse, dress, shirt, craft, collectible, haute couture, high fashion, metal, button in card, unisex, Mother of Pearl or MOP, corozo, tagua, vegetable ivory, assorted or replacement. For sizes of buttons: Up to 20mm-Small size; 21mm to 30mm-Medium size; 31m to 40mm-Big size; 41mm to 50mm-Huge size. Kindly ask if you want more or less of the listed buttons. To get an idea of the size of the rosary, kindly be guided by the following: Small: up to 15 inches long; Medium: 16 to 19 inches long; Large: 20 to 25 inches long; Huge: over 25 inches long. The rosary’s length is measured laid flat on table as if hanging on a nail. All jewelry are cleaned and will be cleaned again for you before sending. Note that the 10 cents coin featured in the listings is 23mm or 2.3 cm in size. Since my promo is out of the normal system of ebay selling and to get your 10% discount, the easiest way to avail of it is to pay the full price, then I will refund your discount including excess postage. Alternatively, you can email me for EACH ITEM you want BEFORE purchase so I can edit the prices with the corresponding discount and combine postage but you may risk missing out on the item in case somebody buys the item ahead of you. Many thanks for your understanding! TERMS AND CONDITIONS: Please pay within 3 days of purchase. Purchased item will be mailed after payment is cleared. Payment is via Paypal only. Non-payment after 3 days will mean change of mind and I reserve the right to relist item. Most of the items I sell are antique or vintage items. They have traits and traces consistent with time, use and age. Remember too that items are magnified in pictures. Please consider these characteristics before you decide to buy. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to send an email. I will be most glad to answer any enquiry. I give enormous time to research, organise, describe, take pictures and give as much details to buyers. Please read descriptions carefully before making your purchase. Pictures are part of the description. Please examine them carefully before making your purchase. Refund of item is possible only if item received is NOT according to description. There is NO refund nor exchange for change of mind or for buyer’s remorse on purchased item. I do not give refund for items that arrived damaged. I take a great deal of effort in packaging items to be sent and what happens to item while in transit is out of my control. In the event of a refund as deemed necessary by ebay, item has to be sent back to me within 7 working days. This store offers the cheapest possible postage to deliver your item. Due to Covid, cheaper international postage offered before is no longer possible and postage had increased dramatically. For your benefit, I always combine postage. Any excess postage will be refunded. A proof of mail and postage is happily submitted upon request. Most buyers are honest and so far, all items purchased in this store have all been received locally and overseas. Rosaries will be mailed via registered mail with tracking and signature only. Please note that there is no pick-up of items but only delivery through the post. Your custom is very important to me. Please let me know if there has been any error, misunderstanding or problem in this transaction. We will try to work out something to solve any problem. With due respect and consideration to everyone, we can build a lasting selling/buying relationship. Best of all, please buy with confidence. Many of the items I am selling now are part of my collection for decades. They represent my lifetime’s collection. The majority of them are a one-off piece and if there are duplicates, it would be in small number. I have now decided to part with and share them to those who would love them as much as I did.
Price: 525 AUD
Location: Perth, WA
End Time: 2024-11-28T20:17:09.000Z
Shipping Cost: 0 AUD
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Item Specifics
Returns Accepted: ReturnsNotAccepted
Product Type: Rosaries
1800s Opaline Pilgrimage Rosary: Opaline Beads, Large, Notre Dame de Orcival Medal
Material: Opaline Glass Beads, Metal