Church Lectern, 19th Century

If this object can sometimes be called a stand, the name of lectern is more appropriate. In fact, both objects allow the reading of sacred books, and in churches the stand is usually mobile while the lectern is almost always fixed and placed in the middle of the choir. Thus, the lectern is reserved for the reading of the choir books. To facilitate reading, a large candlestick was often placed beside the lectern. This particular layout encouraged the use of light-reflecting materials – as in this case gilded bronze – in the design of the object, thus enhancing the book it carried.

A true artistic creation of the 19th century, our lectern is entirely imbued with the neo-Gothic taste inspired by the works of Mérimée: the cabochons, like the precious stones of religious shrines, catch the light and direct the eye towards these painted enamel medallions evoking the founding characters of Christian worship. This elegant “return to basics” borrows noble materials such as gilded bronze and painted enamels, but without having the pretension of the overly precious and pompous liturgical objects of the 18th century, which is surely the reason why (in addition to the cost) coloured glass cabochons are substituted for precious stones.