SOLD True Cross Reliquary, 1st Class Relic, Large Silver Reliquary Cross Presented to Noémie De Blangy 26th March 1837

True Cross Reliquary, 1st Class Relic, Large Silver Reliquary Cross Presented to Noémie De Blangy 26th March 1837

A solid silver reliquary cross that open to reveal the intact Spanish wax seal inside which protects the cloth and the parchment cross onto which has been placed a fragment of The True Cross of Jesus Christ. The wax seal has five tiers which denotes an archbishop and is almost certainly that of Hyacinthe-Louis De Quelen who was Archbishop of Paris from 1821 - 1839.

Noémie De Blangy was born in 1826 to Claudine Louise d'Estampes and her husband Henri Le Viconte de Blangy. Henri was a Maquess which, after King and Duke is the third rank of French nobility. Her mother, Claudine had been Lady in Waiting to Madame Élisabeth, Princess Elisabeth of France, youngest sister to King Louis XVI of France. Claudine, who herself came from one of the oldest noble families of France, had been fortunate to escape the fate of Madame Elisabeth and Louis XVI who were both executed in 1794 during the revolution.

The monarchy was restored in 1814 and so the surviving nobility of France were no longer under threat of execution.

This wonderful gift was made to Noémie on the occasion of her first communion at the age of 11 by which time Charles X was king of France and his queen was Maria Theresa of Savoy.

It is thrilling to hold such an important relic that also was so close to the King and Queen of France.

Over the past two centuries the wax seal has dried but is still intact and the glass has opaqued but it is still perfectly sealed. The writing too has faded on the parchment but under a microscope it is just possible to make out the Vraix Croix which means True Cross.

Noémie married and became the Countess of More-Pontgibaud. She died aged 62 in 1889. I have enclosed as part of the description a photograph of Noémie in later life. Interestingly, the very first permanent capture of a photograph was made by the Frenchman Niépce in 1926 - the year that Noémie was born.

The cross measures 4 x 3 centimetres, not including the bale or the securing screw below.

This important relic will naturally ship with full international tracking.

I have not cleaned this relic, although it would not be difficult to do, save to reveal the name of Noémie De Blangy.