18K Yellow Gold Religious Medal Depicting the Virgin – Sacred Classic Style, circa 1960-1980

This 18-carat yellow gold pendant is a round religious medal, set in a polygonal frame with cut sides, slightly octagonal. At its center, in finely molded relief, is a portrait of the Virgin Mary, veiled, her face tilted in an expression of gentleness and contemplation. The modeling is carefully done but stylized, with fluid folds in the drapery of the veil and a smooth, slightly satin finish on the raised areas. The halo is suggested by the inner circular frame that isolates the portrait from the rest of the medal.

The suspension ring is simple and functional, designed for daily wear on a chain.

This medal can be dated to the 1960s to 1980s, a period when 18K gold religious jewelry was widely distributed in France, Italy, and Belgium, often for communions, confirmations, or weddings. The style of the relief, the treatment of the face, and the construction of the octagonal border are typical of this post-war religious jewelry production, which was both pious and decorative.

The style is classic religious, with an execution between figurative tradition and sober aesthetics. The representation of the Virgin, with her veil and slightly turned face, conforms to traditional Catholic iconographic codes. The absence of superfluous ornamentation, the unity of tone (all yellow gold), and the geometric shape of the frame place the piece within a sacred, discreet, and elegant aesthetic.