Striking Solid Silver Monstrance. Italy, Circa 1950. 100% Silver

Striking vintage silver monstrance made in Italy circa 1950, 100% silver and with ivory figures. This amazing piece of religious silverwork shows a superb-looking design, elegant and modern. The monstrance bears hallmarks in many parts and mixes gilt and non-gilt silver, creating a rich and wonderful look. The foot is hexagonal in shape and is divided in six sections: two of them are decorated with embossed images depicting the Lamb of God and the miracle of the 5 loaves and 2 fish, and the remaining four bear ivory busts of the Four Evangelists with their Latin names. Over the foot, the node is shaped like a small temple and has three niches. Each one hosts a silver figure of a saint: Saint Peter, Saint Paul and Saint John. Just like the ivory busts at the foot, these small sculptures stand out for their balanced proportion and beautiful details. On top of the node we can see the Sun, the monstrances main and most spectacular part. Holding the Sun is a figure of the Immaculate Conception. The sun is composed of gilt sunbeams, some of them compact and others composed of slim strips of silver which make up latticework pieces. There are also shorter and slimmer non-gilt silver sunbeams which provide the design with movement. The lunette at the center of the monstrance is the original one. It is framed by putti heads and fuchsia carved crystals. These crystals can also be seen embedded at the end of the latticework sunbeams, providing color and life to the metal. At the back we can see the names of the donors engraved by hand in some of the beams. On the other hand, if we turn the monstrance upside down we will find an inscription inside the foot. It is a dedication to the priest which was once given the monstrance as a present: "To Don Benedetto Ruggiero, Archpriest of Maranola on the 25th Anniversary of his Priesthood. The People and their friends of Maranola, Li (Liguria), 19 . 7 . 56" Gorgeous and superb, this striking 100% silver monstrance is a real work of art and an amazing silverwork piece. Dimensions: Foots Width: 7 in / 18 cm. Top Width: 13 in / 33 cm. Height: 26.7 in / 68 cm. Weight: 2965 g.