Miniature “Notre Père” Devotional Book Pendant
France, late 18th–early 19th century
Gold, polychrome enamel, paper
(Hinged pendant; opening book form)
This rare miniature devotional pendant is fashioned in the form of a small bound book, a cherished motif in French and Continental religious jewelry of the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. Executed in warm gold, the pendant opens on a functioning hinge to reveal a hand-printed paper page bearing the prayer Notre Père (“Our Father”), underscoring its intimate devotional purpose. The exterior cover is decorated with deep red enamel, framed by fine gold borders and centered with a white enamel Latin cross—an emblem of faith rendered in deliberate simplicity. The reverse is plain polished gold, allowing the object to rest comfortably against the wearer when worn close to the body. A sculptural gold bail completes the piece, enabling suspension from a chain or ribbon.
Miniature book pendants such as this were often worn as personal talismans, combining prayer, protection, and remembrance in a portable form. Their small scale belies their spiritual significance; they served as private companions in daily life rather than overt displays of piety. Surviving examples with intact hinges, legible interior texts, and original enamel are increasingly scarce. This pendant exemplifies the intersection of faith, craftsmanship, and personal devotion, reflecting a period when religious belief was expressed through objects designed to be both worn and quietly contemplated.
This charm was purchased in Tonnerre, France.
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