18k Yellow Gold Pendant - "Virgin Mary" Medallion

18K yellow gold religious medal depicting the Virgin Mary – Classic sacred style, circa 1960-1980

This 18-karat yellow gold pendant is a round religious medallion set in a slightly octagonal, multi-lobed frame with cut sides. In the center, finely molded in relief, is a portrait of the Virgin Mary, veiled, her face tilted in an expression of gentleness and contemplation. The modeling is meticulous but stylized, with fluid folds in the drape of the veil and a smooth, slightly satiny finish on the areas in relief. 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 everyday wear on a chain.

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

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