Close-up of vintage Paul Vincze 9kt gold St. Christopher medal showing sculpted relief – Auric Vintage

Paul Vincze Saint Christopher pendant

€1.100,00

Latest drop

Paul Vincze Saint Christopher pendant

€1.100,00

Vintage St. Christopher medal in 9kt gold by renowned medallist Paul Vincze. Designed as a circular pendant, the medal is finely chased with a classically sculpted, almost heroic depiction of St. Christopher carrying the Christ Child upon his shoulder. The inscription 'ST. CHRISTOPHER' appears above in serifed capital letters, while the pendant is suspended from a polished circular bale. Bearing Paul Vincze's maker's mark, the medal is hallmarked for 9kt gold in London, 1957, and signed 'P. Vincze ENGLAND'.

Close-up of vintage Paul Vincze 9kt gold St. Christopher medal showing sculpted relief – Auric Vintage
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Looking through the LOUPE

MATERIALS

Gold

AGE

1957

SIZE

2.9cm L x 2.2cm W

WEIGHT

4.96 g

MARKS

London. Hallmark for 9kt gold. 1957 date letter. Signed P.Vincze
Paul Vincze Saint Christopher pendant

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!

United Kingdom / 1938 - 1978

Paul Vincze

Carve me like one of your commemorative medals…

Forget the painting. Nothing says you’ve “made it” more than having your own face on money. And when I say your own money, I mean your head on a coin. Depending on the medallist, your immortalized mug could be a flattering Virgin Queen Elizabeth I, forever youthful, or a double-chinned, mourning Queen Victoria.

When the time came in 1953 for Queen Elizabeth II’s commemorative coronation coins to be released, one depiction of the beloved monarch seemed to capture her determined, steadfast nature best. Paul Vincze, a WWII refugee from Hungary, had immigrated to the United Kingdom in 1938 and quickly began showcasing his enormous talent.

A trained sculptor and medallist, Vincze spent the 1950s and 1960s creating pieces depicting U.S. Presidents Truman and John F. Kennedy. He also lent his talent to the Pope, Sir Winston Churchill, and Irish revolutionary Pádraig Pearse. If you are lucky enough to find one of his extremely collectible St. Christopher or zodiac medallions, hold on with both hands.

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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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