Religious Objects d’Art in French Decor
I’ve long adored decorating with antique religious objects d’art, especially when they have a french origin. No one decorates with sacred pieces better than the French, and these spiritual pieces can bring such a sense of serenity to a space, as well as create instant history in your home.
Antique religious art reflects my interests from a spiritual perspective, but they are also beautiful works of art in their own right.
They can evoke an impression of peace in the home, and they reinforce my belief that your home is your sanctuary.
One of my most treasured pieces is a 19th century attendance board from a French Catholic orphanage. It still retains the name at the top, Enfants de Mary (Mary’s Children) with little slips of paper inserted into the slats with the children’s names written in beautiful script by the nuns.
It’s the centerpiece in our family room, and every time I look at it, I wonder at the stories it could tell.
Have you noticed any homes where the focal point of a room is a religious piece of art?
I personally find that these lovely old pieces have a tranquil effect while also being decorative.
Incorporating spiritual objects into your home can bring a touch of warmth, and many people collect for the aesthetic, not religious reasons.
These sacred pieces should be looked upon as art, which can give your home dimension and texture.
In my own home I use religious pieces to bring in depth with the rich colors.
Devotional objects such as religious art, crosses, and statues can have profound visual power.
Some of my favorite interior designers have decorated homes with work inspired by religious traditions.
Rachel Ashwell Interior Design
Interior Designer Pamela Pierce
Interior Designer Kay O’Toole
Interior Designer Lisa Luby Ryan
When it comes to religious artifacts, the more timeworn and faded they are, the more I love them.
They are historical and beautiful pieces of the past, and some of the best art ever commissioned came from the churches.
The undeniable beauty and inspiration of antique crucifixes, religious statues, and art tell a story and they usually evoke a story about how they were found.
They can be enjoyed by believers and non-believers alike.
And most have survived decades, if not centuries, of use and neglect, reflecting the craftsmanship of their original creators.
Several years ago, hubby and I attended an auction in a very rural farm town. There was absolutely nothing at the auction that we were interested in except……this large plaster angel. It stood out like a sore thumb among all the old farm implements.
We stayed at the auction for hours waiting for her to come up on the auction block because I was determined that she was coming home with me….and she did.
Before we left, I was fortunate enough to be able to speak to the property owner about the angel, and he told me that she came out of a closed Catholic church in St. Louis.
Somewhere along the way, she lost her wings, but I was able to find a pair of metal wings that fit into the slots in her back perfectly.
My husband purchased this antique French Madonna bust many years ago, and had it shipped here from France for my Christmas gift.
I treasure her timeworn beauty. She shows much of her century old age, making her the perfectly imperfect addition to our home.
I don’t believe that there’s one room in our home that doesn’t have some kind of religious artifact added. It may be small and subtle, or the centerpiece of the room.
Adding these touches of religious design elements can be easily incorporated for a humble touch of calm and quietude, and using religious art pieces outside can even bring a focal point to a garden or patio.
I hope I have inspired you in a new way!
Cheers,
Cindy
Just beautiful! What a lovely way to add a spiritual dimension to the beauty of your home!
Hello! Your home is absolutely beautiful! As a Traditional Catholic, I am swooning over your religious decor! Just wondering where you get most of your pieces? ☺️
Hi Holly! We find most of our pieces at estate sales and auctions. We are always searching for them. Not only do I collect, but I also sell pieces in our online shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/edithandevelyn
This is my favorite post! I love all the gorgeous ideas!
Thank you much for sharing your lovely religious pieces. I love them! Jean
I love decorating with religious items. I have found small pieces in Lourdes, France, and try to collect as I can. I found a few icons this past year at an estate sale, and have a hard time passing up Rosaries, old missals and holy cards. So much history, beauty and peace! (I always say a prayer for the owners of homes whose estate sales I attend.)
Cindy, you do a beautiful job displaying and sharing your love of religious art! The attendance board is my favorite!
I absolutely love your collection.
Thank you so much, Deb!
Just lovely! I have begun to collect things for inside the house since we have had things in our garden area. I love the way I feel when I walk by these pieces of history.
Your home is so lovely, but it is made even moreso with the artifacts.
Thank you for sharing.
Blessings,
Teresa
Cindy,
That board is an exquisite treasure. I love the religious objects as a decorating tool
The religious objects bring us graces. We are spiritual beings and ‘our hearts are restless until they rest in him’. We are naturally drawn to the sacred. Congratulations.
I too love decorating with religions pieces. I recently found a beautiful old piece with a painting of my two most favorite saints. St. Francis, keeper of the animals and St. Anthony, who I always depend on when I can’t find my keys, glasses or whatever. Each time I call on him he says “oh, it’s you again Rita”, yes he knows me well LOL.
I so enjoyed viewing the pictures you posted,. Such beautiful rooms. If you ever travel to New Mexico be sure to visit Old Town in Albuquerque and all the beautiful shop in Santa Fe where you’re sure to find some beautiful old religious pieces to add to your collection.
I so look forward to your posts and comments!! I too love religious art and have it literally in every room. Being Catholic several pieces are from my family and childhood so it instills a sense of peace and happiness for me. They are beautiful pictures that you have shared and thank you for bringing this lost art the attention it deserves!! Love Love Love it!!!
Thank you so much, Maureen!
Hello Cindy, your home is soooo beautiful with all your religious statuary ~ especially the lovely angel in the hallway. Thank you for a lovely post! I shared on my FB page. 🙂
Always,
Barb 🙂
Aw, Barb, thank you so much. Your sweet comment means so much to me!
My great great grandmother was educated at a convent school in Paris…..she spoke fluent French and taught French to wealthy families in America when she settled here….it has always intrigued me to think of her early life in Paris. I also have religious articles. One being a carved rosary from Italy..very large that I have in my home that my grandmother brought back from her travels there….love your beautiful displays.
What a beautiful story, Mary! Thank you for sharing!
Such lovely religious objects and so artfully and beautifully arranged. I’ve probably said it before, but I love your beautiful home and I think your collection of religious art is part of the attraction for me. Maybe they add a dimension beyond the beauty of the home itself.
Thank you so much, Lurlie! Your sweet comment means so much to me! Have a great weekend!
Your use of religious items inspired me to display my collection of roseries.
I framed a bible passage and hung the roseries around it. It hangs in my bedroom and I live seeing them instead of them sitting in cups and drawers.
What a wonderful idea to display your rosaries! I find such serenity from these storied religious pieces. Thank you so much for commenting!
OMG, I would never want to leave home if I had a home looking like these. Thanks fr sharing.
You are too kind, Ivory! Thank you so much!
~Cindy~
It really does bring a peaceful feeling . I am trying to find more pieces too. I don’t have many, but some i treasure are from my daddy’s youth like his First Communion in 1941, prayer books, and rosary.
I hope you have a joyful weekend.
Paula
IN
Those pieces are so special and have so much meaning. I love those kind of heirlooms! Thanks for commenting, Paula!
I just adore every single religious piece you own, oh but how beautiful does your china looks with your collection of religious items…pure beauty!
TFS~
Mari
Thank you so much, Mari!
You inspired me to display what I had collected and add more to it. I have most pieces in a secretary piece in my foyer. Displayed with a painted blue background, sound familiar? I love looking and saving these pieces. It is certainly comforting to look at daily.
Your display sounds beautiful, Jane! Thank you so much for commenting!
I absolutely love every piece you have, Cindy! I have collected for years and still buying if I can place somewhere among the clutter….lol Like you said it is beautiful art!
Yes, it truly is, Nancy!
Awesome! Thank you
My pleasure, Teresa!
What a luvly collection Cindy. My maternal grandmother, she was French , had a few . Some sacred hearts, a few chalk statues, crucifixes sprinkled all throughout her home. I often wonder what became of them. They were so beautiful.
Oh my, Gee, don’t you wish that you had them?!? I can only imagine!
I also love using pieces in my gardens that are able to withstand the outdoor weather.
Yes, the beautiful garden statues are so perfect for a focal point in the garden or on the patio. Thank you so much for commenting, Diane!
Beautiful! Inspirational as always. What is the year of publication of your Victor Hugo Les Miserables? I would love to find a copy of that – it’s stunning. Thank you, Jacki
Jacki, the date on our copy is 1893. I found it at an estate sale for $3.00!
Amazing! What an awesome find!
Thank you, Jacki!
Funny that this would be your topic!!
I have a collection of rosaries that I have been wanting to display. I recently changed my window treatment using rustic hooks and tie top shears.. thinking of hanging them from the hooks??!!
Wish I could post a picture!
That sounds wonderful, Margie!! I love old rosaries, and have quite a collection of them myself. I hang them on statues and sometimes lay them on the coffee table on top of a stack of old books.
I have always loved symbolic items of our faith to be inspired by, especially at those surprising moments when we least expect to see them and how they speak to us.
Very nicely done/displayed.
So true, Diane! Thank you so much for commenting!
Your collections are impeccable Cindy, and displayed so tastefully. I especially love the orphanage role call piece ❤ Yes, so inspirational!
Thank you, Debbie!
You have certainly inspired me. I’ve always loved religious art and have started a collection . My first purchase was a small statue of St Theresefrom France that I found at Round Top. If I only had your talent for display.
Oh, I just know that sweet St. Therese statue is lovely! Thank you so much for commenting!
Breathtaking!!! Peaceful and serene.
Thank you so much, Daphne!
As always, your posts fill me with inspiration and a sense of beauty and serenity. How I long to create the same ambiance in my own home.
Thank you so much, Carol!