FRANCE-Late 1600’s-Early 1700’s

Period of Louis XIV (1643-1715) – Condition:  Minor losses or ornamentation; Very good antique condition commensurate with age.

This French Tabernacle from a church was an ornamental receptacle reserved for the Eucharist.  Its ornamentation is true to the period of Louis XIV with ecclesiastical symbolism.  The front convex curved door panel has hand carved figures of Christ with two disciples at a table feasting.  The domed scene is ornamented with drapery, a table cloth with fringe and a diagonal stone floor.  To either side of the panel are pilasters featuring angel’s masks cradled in their wings with a fruit and foliate pendant atop a volute with a foliate fleur-de-lis and attenuated acanthus leaf drop.  The side panels are concave and curve outward at an angle with a central motif of the Sunflower for Louis XIV surrounded by a stylized cartouche of the fleur-de-lis in acanthus leaves at the top and c-scroll acanthus surrounding it with a stylized shell at the bottom.  The entire panel is notched at all four corners in Louis XIV ornamentation. 
This magnificent church tabernacle from the Louis XIV Period is very rare and much sought after by collectors.