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| Saint-Esprit Pendant of Silver, Rock Crystals and Pastes Normandy, France, 1798-1809 The Victoria & Albert Museum |
The jewelers of Normandy, France, have always been known for their elaborate, jeweled crosses, but this Saint-Esprit (Holy Spirit) pendant is another example of the beautiful work of the goldsmiths of this region.
The pendant represents a dove, symbol of the Holy Spirit (or Saint-Esprit), flying down to earth with a branch in its beak—a reference to the dove which is said to have brought an olive leaf to Noah, signifying man's reconciliation with God after the Flood. This is the only found example of an Eighteenth Century Normandy pendant showing a dove with an olive branch.
Like many of the Normandy crosses, this Saint-Esprit is set with transparent rock crystals, but it also features colorful stones and pastes. The pendant was meant to be worn on a black velvet ribbon, fastened tightly round the neck like a choker, with the slide at the front.
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