HOLY WATER BUCKET 17th century

Antique holy water bucket in hammered copper

France or Catholic Europe — 17th century

Antique liturgical bucket in hammered copper, intended for the storage and use of holy water within a religious building. This sober and functional object displays a deep patina, acquired over the centuries through regular use in a ritual context.

The base is decorated with a radiating motif with a central cross, an ancient symbol of the diffusion of the sacred and of spiritual protection. This type of decoration, discreet yet rich in meaning, is characteristic of 17th-century liturgical productions, predating the more narrative ornaments of later periods.

The riveted handle, simple and robust, testifies to entirely hand-crafted workmanship. The absence of a lid confirms active use, probably in the sacristy or near the choir, during blessings, aspersions, and rites of purification.

A humble yet deeply symbolic object of worship, this bucket embodies a daily, repeated, and silent spirituality — that of the liturgical gesture rather than representation.

PERIOD : 17th century
DIMENSIONS : 25 cm X 13 cm
SIZE : 9.8" X 5.1"

The Maltese Cross, also known as the Cross of Saint John, is an emblematic symbol representing the virtues of the knights: loyalty, courage, generosity, respect, honesty, faith, justice, and mercy. It is associated with the Order of the Hospitallers of Saint John of Jerusalem, later known as the Order of Malta, founded in the 11th century. Adopted as an insignia by the knights, it symbolizes their devotion to the sick and the poor.