This exquisite antique French Catholic pocket shrine, also called a "Porta-Saint," features a handmade chapel housing a small lead figurine of the Virgin Mary. The figurine, measuring 2 x 4 cm, is carefully placed behind the doors of the ND-signed for "Notre Dame de Lourdes" capsule shrine. Crafted around 1910, it holds historical significance as it was made from repurposed arsenal materials carried by a French soldier (Poilu) during World War I.
Key Features:
Design: Handmade pocket shrine with a lead figurine of the Virgin Mary.
Size: Figurine measures 2 x 4 cm.
History: Made in France circa 1910 using repurposed military materials from WWI.
Cultural Significance: Known as a "Porta-Saint," these shrines were popular among soldiers from the late 19th century to WWII, carried as a symbol of protection and faith in the trenches.
About Porta-Saints and Religious Pocket Shrines
Portable shrines like this were personal religious keepsakes for soldiers, offering solace and spiritual guidance during war. Their intricate craftsmanship and deep connection to faith make them treasured artifacts of devotion and resilience.
