Our Lady of Flanders with Child under a Glass Dome | c. 1970

A special vintage representation of Our Lady of Flanders with the Christ Child, richly dressed and presented under a large transparent glass dome.

Mary wears a black velvet mantle with gold-colored fringe and the recognizable coat of arms with the Flemish Lion. The display is further finished with silver-colored fabric, lace, and a delicate tulle veil. Mary and the Child wear separate gold-colored crowns, with Mary's large crown adorned with red faux gemstones.

Our Lady of Flanders holds a special place within Flemish Catholic devotion. Veneration under this name gained prominence primarily from the mid-19th century onwards, and costumed representations of Mary and the Child subsequently found their way into Flemish living rooms, where religious statues were traditionally kept under a dome. This example clearly fits within that tradition, with the Flemish Lion as an explicit reference to Flanders.

The original inscription "Lieve Vrouw van Vlaanderen XIIIe eeuw" (Our Lady of Flanders 13th century) is still present on the base. This is part of the object's historical presentation. However, the dome and materials used indicate that this specific piece is significantly younger and presumably dates from circa 1960-1980.

The figures are hand-dressed and assembled from various materials. With a height of approximately 40 cm, the whole forms a striking piece of Flemish devotionalia and a decorative collector's item.

Details:

• Subject: Our Lady of Flanders with Child
• Origin: likely Flanders, Belgium
• Period: presumably c. 1960-1980
• Execution: hand-assembled and dressed
• Materials: textile, velvet-like material, lace, tulle, metal, plastic, and mixed materials
• Mantle with coat of arms and Flemish Lion
• Gold-colored crowns for Mary and the Child
• Mary's crown decorated with red faux gemstones
• Original inscription: "Lieve Vrouw van Vlaanderen XIIIe eeuw"
• Dome: transparent plastic
• Height: approx. 40 cm
• Width: approx. 33 cm
• Condition: good decorative vintage condition with signs of use
• Some small holes and damage to the tulle veil
• Localized wear and discoloration to the fabric
• Signs of use and some dark spots on the gold-colored base
• Plastic dome does not fit completely flush with the base in all areas