Solid Silver Holy Oils Set

Limoges, dated 1702
Louis XIV period – Regency

A rare and precious solid silver box for holy oils, with an architectural design reminiscent of a reliquary, crafted in Limoges in 1702.

Intended for the storage and transport of the sacred oils used in the Catholic liturgy, this remarkable set consists of a rectangular casket topped by a four-sided pyramidal lid, surmounted by a small cross. It opens via a rear hinge and closes with a chain ending in a rod—the original locking mechanism, which remains perfectly preserved.

The interior contains its two original solid silver cylindrical ampoules, each with a domed lid featuring a cruciform handle. They bear the engraved inscriptions “OS” (Oleum Sanctum) and “SC” (Sanctum Chrisma).

Both ampoules still retain traces of Holy Oils, a particularly moving testament to their liturgical use over the centuries.

The case rests on an elegant, molded plinth base. The hallmarks allow for a particularly precise dating: the hallmark of Jurande de Limoges, combined with the hallmarks of the Fermiers généraux Adrien Vannier and Pierre Perrine, as well as the discharge hallmark of Jacques Léger, allows us to attribute the manufacture of this case to the year 1702.

The small cross at the top, in a slightly more archaic style, appears to have been reused from an earlier liturgical object.

Solid silver Holy Oils caskets from the Ancien Régime are extremely rare today. Many were lost during the melting-down campaigns ordered under the Ancien Régime or during the French Revolution in order to recover the precious metal. Complete sets, retaining their case, two ampoules, and original locking mechanism, have become exceptionally rare.

Due to its age, its remarkable state of preservation, the quality of its craftsmanship, and the exceptional precision of its dating, this case stands as a remarkable example of early 18th-century French religious goldsmithing.

Condition

In very fine condition. Complete set, with no apparent repairs, retaining its two original ampoules, its closing chain, and traces of past liturgical use.

Expertise note:

The study of punches by Mr. Bastien Lancelot, CNES certified expert in French silverware and goldsmithing of the 17th and 18th centuries, attributes this box to Paris and dates it precisely from the years 1702-1703. The punches of the summit cross correspond to the small Parisian works of the early 18th century (1704-1712), probably testifying to a contemporary intervention of the play. This Parisian attribution, based on an in-depth reading of the punches, significantly reinforces the historical and heritage interest and value of this exceptional piece of religious goldsmithing.