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A RARE Mid-Century 'Our Lady of the Snows' Medal ~ A Treasure of Faith & Modernist Art
Become the next custodian of this truly exceptional vintage religious medal, a rare and beautiful piece that carries a story stretching from a 4th-century Roman miracle to the heart of mid-century American faith. This is not a common devotional item; it is a work of art and a piece of history, becoming more scarce with each passing year.
The Ancient Miracle: A Summer Snow in Rome
This medal honors one of the oldest and most wondrous devotions to the Blessed Virgin Mary. In 352 A.D., Our Lady appeared in a dream to Pope Liberius and a pious Roman couple, promising a miraculous sign. On a hot August morning, the crest of Rome's Esquiline Hill was found covered in a blanket of snow, which perfectly outlined the location for a great church to be built in her honor. That church became the magnificent Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major, and Mary was given the beautiful title, "Our Lady of the Snows." This medal is a tangible link to that incredible 1,700-year-old story of faith.
A Work of Mid-Century Modern Art
What makes this particular medal so rare is its stunning artistic design. Created circa the late 1950s to 1960s, it is a superb example of Mid-Century Modern (MCM) religious art. The figures of the Madonna and Child are rendered with an elegant, stylized grace that is both reverent and strikingly modern.
The high-quality, two-tone construction—a silver-toned center set within a polished brass-toned frame—was a more complex and costly design choice that sets it apart. This is not a generic casting; it is a thoughtfully designed piece of wearable art from a bygone era of liturgical design.
A Piece of American History: The National Shrine
This medal is a precious artifact from the founding years of the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows in Belleville, Illinois. Established in 1958, the shrine is one of the largest Marian pilgrimage sites in North America. This medal was an early souvenir for pilgrims, a tangible memento of their visit during the shrine's first decade. As such, it represents a unique moment in American Catholic history.
Condition, Details & Increasing Scarcity
Medals of this specific modernist design and historical provenance are no longer produced. With each passing year, fewer of these beautiful pieces remain. This is a rare opportunity to acquire not just a medal, but a story, a piece of art, and a fragment of history. May it bring you peace and become a treasured part of your collection or your journey of faith.
_gsrx_vers_1715 (GS 9.9.2 (1715))
_gsrx_vers_1715 (GS 9.9.2 (1715))
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Offered by Gosla Antiques & Collectibles, purveyors of antiquities, curiosities and collectible wares. Dispatched from Pennsylvania, United States, with tracking.
Gosla Antiques & Collectibles