Antique French Standing Crucifix - Silver INRI

A restrained late 19th-century French standing crucifix in silver plate, with a simple cross, angled INRI plaque, and a finely modeled figure of Christ. The stem rises from a low circular base with a reeded border, giving the piece a clean, balanced silhouette. The softly worn silvered surface adds a quiet sense of age without distracting from its devotional simplicity. Walter Wells began collecting crucifixes over many years, finding them in Paris shops and Provençal brocantes. Mostly French and dating from the 17th to 19th centuries, they fascinated him for their variations in form, materials, and detail, particularly given his strict Protestant upbringing, where religious imagery was largely absent. Over time, Walter came to see each crucifix not simply as an object, but as an individual expression of sacrifice, grace, forgiveness, and acceptance. Several examples from his collection are available for separate purchase.