Mid century French St. Christopher medal in 800 silver with figural design by Jean Balme – Auric Vintage

Jean Balme St. Christopher medal

€95,00

Latest drop

Jean Balme St. Christopher medal

€95,00

Mid century French St. Christopher medal in 800 silver. The disk pendant is decorated with a finely crafted depiction of St.Christopher aiding the Holy Child. Fitted with an oval bale, the piece is marked 800 with a maker’s mark and signature for famous French medallist Jean Balme. 

Mid century French St. Christopher medal in 800 silver with figural design by Jean Balme – Auric Vintage
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Looking through the LOUPE

MATERIALS

Silver

AGE

c.1950

SIZE

2.6cm L x 2.2cm W

WEIGHT

4.3 g

MARKS

Marked 800, Jean Balme maker's mark

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Jean Balme St. Christopher medal

In a world that moves faster and farther than ever, we are all travelers, whether chasing adventure, education, or a quiet moment away from home. Long ago, when journeys were perilous. loved ones might send a companion in miniature, a talisman, a prayer, a guardian.


Saint Christopher was one of the most cherished. Legend tells of a giant who sought to serve the greatest king in the world. only to discover that Christ was the mightiest of all. The giant dedicated himself to helping others, guiding travelers safely across treacherous rivers.


One evening, a small child asked to be carried. As the giant waded through the raging waters, the child's weight grew heavier and heavier until it felt as if he bore the weight of the entire world. When they reached the far shore, the child revealed himself as Christ and gave the giant a new name: Christopher. Christ-bearer.


Mentions of Saint Christopher date back to the 3rd century AD. His image became a portable prayer, a symbol of protection for all who journeyed into the unknown. Today, whether near or far, a Saint Christopher is a reminder that someone is hoping for your safe return, that you are never truly alone.

SAINT CHRISTOPHER

TAKE ME WITH YOU!

France / 1800 -1885

Jean Balme

Dangling around the neck, clutched in devoted hands, or gifted with a prayer for good vibes, Jean Balme’s medal work has been sprinkling a little magic for over 100 years. In a tiny workshop in Saumur, France, he learned at the knee of his father how to turn metals into miniature works of art. His dad Joseph focused on religious medals, depicting protective Saints, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Mother Mary. These little charms were meant to be worn close, to comfort, protect, and remind, and everyone noticed the painstaking detail. 

From this family tradition, Jean picked up discipline, a sense of scale, and a knack for symbolism, realizing that sometimes the quietest objects hit the hardest. By the mid 20th century he turned his gaze to the skies, making various collections of silver zodiac pendants for all twelve signs. Each one brings its sign to life in figural form, tiny characters and symbols doing their cosmic thing capturing the essence of the Zodiac. And when Jean finally put down the tools, his vision didn’t vanish, it slid over to the Pichard atelier, becoming Pichard-Balme, where his legacy lives on to this day.

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1950 - 1959

Fifties

The war was over, and the 1950s arrived with a sense of reset. Optimism took hold as the Western world began rebuilding, trading austerity for structure, polish, and a renewed appetite for beauty. After years of rationing, glamour returned with intent. Hollywood led the charge, projecting a vision of controlled femininity through figures like Audrey Hepburn, Grace Kelly, and Marilyn Monroe.

Jewellery followed this direction. It became composed, precise, and unapologetically refined. Platinum and white gold dominated, set with brilliant-cut diamonds and punctuated by saturated, coloured stones. Design leaned into contrast, structure, and light, with higher settings and sculpted forms giving pieces presence without excess.

There was variety beneath the surface. Naturalism, abstraction, and exotic influences coexisted, offering different expressions of the same polished ideal. Tropical flora and fauna emerged as recurring motifs, alongside birds and marine forms, each reimagined by leading jewellery houses such as Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, and Harry Winston.

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