491 - A large silver-gilt Neogothic monstrance

A large silver-gilt Neogothic monstrance Quatrefoil foot engraved with the arms of alliance of the families von Papen and von Romberg and the donor’s inscription: “dem allerheiligsten Herzen Jesu geweiht von Carol. Baronin Papen-Lohe, geb. Freiin Romberg / Lohe, am Tage der feierlichen Weihe an das h. Herz Jesu, d. 12. Juni 1874” (“Dedicated to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus by Carol. Baroness Papen-Lohe, née Baroness Romberg / Lohe, on the day of the solemn dedication to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, 12 June 1874”). On the opposite side, engraved with: “Ecce panis angelorum factus cibus viatorum vere panis filiorum, non mittendus canibus” (“Behold the bread of angels, made the food of pilgrims, truly the bread of children, not to be cast to the dogs”). The compressed pommel between hexagonal sections of the stem, with “ihesus” engraved on the rotuli. The monstrance of architectural design with Gothic Revival tracery; beneath crocketed gables and pinnacles, finely chased sculptures of Saints Francis of Assisi and Charles Borromeo. The cylindrical expositiorium inscribed “SANCTVS SANCTVS SANCTVS / DOMINVS DEVS SABAOTH”, surmounted by a Madonna of the Crescent Moon on a hexagonal base. The inserted lunula behind a gold wreath, richly set with rose-cut diamonds, rubies, sapphires and emeralds. In a later fitted case. Height 64.8 cm, weight 2,557 g. Kempen am Rhein, signature of Franz Xaver Hellner, 1874. Literature Cf. Hildegard Lütkenhaus, Sakrale Goldschmiedekunst des Historismus im Rheinland, Berlin 1992, p. 313 f., with numerous illustrations; cf. also Wolfgang Cortjaens, Rheinische Altarbauten des Historismus, Rheinbach-Baumbach 2002, p. 508.