{"product_id":"set-3","title":"Set of Three French Parish Offertory Boxes, Dated 1852 St Philomène • St Anne • St Augustin France Original painted pine with gilt decoration","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSet of Three French Parish Offertory Boxes, Dated 1852\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSt Philomène • St Anne • St Augustin\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFrance\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOriginal painted pine with gilt decoration\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAn extraordinary and deeply moving set of three French parish offertory boxes, all dated 1852, each dedicated to a specific saint and inscribed with the name of its original donor.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePainted in a rich church teal with parcel gilt panels, stenciled lettering, and molded decorative appliqués, these boxes were once part of a Catholic church interior, used at individual side altars where parishioners would leave offerings tied to personal prayers and intentions.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEach box carries its own identity and history:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e• \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSt Philomène — 1852\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e — Given by Elizabeth Thibaut, widow Soucases\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e• \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSt Anne\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e — Given by Paul Massotte\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e• \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSt Augustin\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThese inscriptions are not decorative. They are real people, real donors, permanently tied to these objects and the church they once lived in. This is true provenance, preserved directly on the surface.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOriginally, a parishioner would approach the altar of a specific saint, kneel, light a candle, and leave a coin within the box while making a private prayer. These pieces were part of that ritual. They were touched, used, and present during moments of hope, grief, gratitude, and faith.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhat makes this set so exceptional is its survival.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMost offertory boxes were lost, discarded, or separated over time, particularly after church reforms in the 20th century. To find one is special. To find three from the same church, with matching paint, inscriptions, and date, still together, is extraordinarily rare.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEach box is fully independent, allowing them to be displayed stacked as shown or styled individually as risers, pedestals, or sculptural objects.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCondition\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOriginal paint and gilding with age appropriate wear\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSurface wear, loss, and patina consistent with 19th century use\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eStructurally sound\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAll inscriptions legible\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eUnrestored and full of character\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhy It Matters\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThese are not simply decorative objects.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThey are physical touchpoints of human devotion.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThey held offerings.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThey held prayers.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThey held moments that mattered to someone, nearly 175 years ago.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAnd somehow, they are still together.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Sarah \u0026 Elijah Antiques","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44209199415356,"sku":null,"price":3249.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0587\/4827\/2700\/files\/IMG_7559.jpg?v=1776566298","url":"https:\/\/www.sarahandelijahantiques.com\/products\/set-3","provider":"Sarah \u0026 Elijah Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}