Late 19th Century Polychrome and Gilt Terracotta Virgin Bearing Votive Loss - 19¼"

A serene 19th century statue of the Virgin Mary in richly polychromed and gilded terracotta, this devotional figure brings a quiet, luminous presence to any interior. The modelling is tender and calm, the Virgin’s downcast gaze framed by flowing robes painted in soft cream, warm red lakes, and veils of original gold leaf. These colours still catch the light beautifully, falling over a blue globe and settling on a stepped octagonal base with traces of its early decorative painting. The surface bears the gentle, poetic wear of time : rubbing to the gilding, small flakes to the pigment, and an old loss to one hand. In some regions of France, such losses on domestic statues were sometimes associated with local votive or mourning customs, in which a broken hand or arm could signal a prayer offered, a grace sought, or mark the memory of a family bereavement. Whether intentional or simply the quiet trace of long devotion, the imperfection enhances the statue’s depth and humanity. Style it on a marble mantel, a console beneath a giltwood mirror, or within a vignette of candles and books , its quiet light and historic character can anchor a room with warmth, grace, and a sense of enduring devotion.