Antique Profession Crucifix – Handmade at Lourdes c.1880, Silvered Bronze & Ebony Inlay, Silver Corpus Christi, Rare 8x4cm Cross

Antique Profession Crucifix – Handmade at Lourdes c.1880, Silvered Bronze & Ebony Inlay, Silver Corpus Christi, Rare 8x4cm Cross

This is an absolutely beautiful example of a Profession crucifix. Exquisite craftsmanship made at one of the many superb workshops at Lourdes. It bears an early example of the insignia of Lourdes on the reverse.

It is wonderfully detailed and the figure of Christ is exceptional. This was made by a master craftsman. The inlay is ebony and although I found it at an antique fair in the Pyrenees mountains. Unusually the INRI plaque is made of copper.

This stunning crucifix was almost certainly made for a priest or nun as a gift at the time of taking their vows which is why it is called a Profession crucifix and it is likely that those vows were taken at Lourdes.

All of these old inlaid crucifixes from this period were made by hand and usually you can still see the grinding and file marks. Here the marks have been ground so finely that they are almost invisible but they are just visible at the top of the crucifix on its bail and on its sides.

This exceptional piece measures 8 x 4 centimetres so it is a substantial piece.