Items Similar to Antique French Empire Period Double Sided Sacred Heart Silver Cross

Antique Empire Cross French Rose Diamond Silver Silver Gilt

Chain Necklace Opal French Medal Saint Sacred Heart Pendant Silver J Dauphin

Antique Habsburg Empire Silver Thaler Coin Cross

Emerald White Diamond Medal Sacred Heart Cross Chain Necklace

Medal Chain Necklace Opals Sacred Heart Pendant Silver J Dauphin

Ruby Sacred Twin Heart Silver Medal Necklace on a Silver Chain J Dauphin

Want more images or videos?

Request additional images or videos from the seller

1 of 10

Antique French Empire Period Double Sided Sacred Heart Silver Cross

About the Item

Fine antique French Empire period double sided Sacred Heart silver cross 19th Century Length: 3.75 inches Width: 2.25 inches Tested for sterling silver, of solid construction. The front depicting the Sacred Heart pierced by a sword and topped with a flaming torch, flanked by the motto Spec Unica. The back with the Sacred Heart surrounded by the Crown of Thorns, bleeding, topped with a flaming torch, with the following letters: C.U., E.T., A.U., ICJ. The decorative elements at the arms are classical French Empire period, circa 1840. The moving subject of this beautiful crucifix relates to a passage in the Gospels which describes Christ's crown of thorns being transferred from his head to his heart, emphasizing that He felt his wounds in the depth of his heart. After Resurrection, the allusion is that the crown of thorns becomes a crown of victory- In the Revelation 19:12, Christ wears “many crowns” and believers who are victorious over sin and Satan will receive the “crown of life” (Revelation 2:10). The Sacred Heart devotion is believed to have been started by St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, a seventeenth century French nun who described her personal vision as: “I saw this divine Heart as on a throne of flames, more brilliant than the sun and transparent as crystal. It had Its adorable wound and was encircled with a crown of thorns, which signified the pricks our sins caused Him.” The sword piercing the heart is a reference to the passage of Luke- " a sword shall pierce...", alluding to Mary's sorrows during the crucifixion. Spes Unica motto is thought to derive from the Congregation of the Holy Cross - Ave Crux Spes Unica- Hail to the Cross, Our Only Hope. A reminder of Christ's spiritual courage and a call to stand tall in the face of adversity. Hope draws forth the human spirit and its ability to transform lives.

Metal:

Silver,Sterling Silver

Weight:

41.5 g

Dimensions:

Width: 2.25 in (57.15 mm)Length: 3.75 in (95.25 mm)

Place of Origin:

France

Period:

19th Century

Date of Manufacture:

19th Century