SACRISTY'S CABINET, monstrance's luna & new testament

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- is an interesting find! A 19th century chest (cabinet?) which comes to us from a private source, who in turn acquired in from a Catholic church in the region of Amakusa, Kyushu, a region w Christians arrived bringing Christianity to Japan in the 1600s. It's an area known as the "land of the secret Christians" (a Wikipedia search will explain everything).T are several catholic churches which were built in the 1870/1880s by several French missionaries (this can be verified, and we've added a photo of one of these churches which looks so French but is in fact in Kyushu Japan). As Japan went trough several upheavals, in the Meiji era (1868-1912) , again in the Taisho period (1912-1926) and in the pre-war and post war years, it is possible that some church antiques were purchased or acquired by some Japanese which would explain how such items come to us.Details:- The cabinet/chest appears to be made of oak, is definitely French and is interesting insofar as the lock prevents the front door, the top lid and the bottom drawer to be opened. Rather ingenious system. Inside are several compartments and another small drawer. The front door is covered with an embossed pewter plaque. Drawer pulls appear to be pewter as well (no rust).No damage whatsoever. No signs of having been restored either. And best of all, the key is present and the locks works smoothly (we like that).- Inside we found 2 items of interest. One is called a "luna", which is used with a monstrance to hold the consecrated Host. It appears to be made of gold (the rim) and the beveled glass is in good condition (no chips or cracks).The other item is a mid-Meiji period New Testament in Japanese. Its condition, though worn and well-used, is good and no pages are missing or have been torn out. This ensemble is about as interesting a "conversation piece" as expected, considering its source and origins. FRANCAIS:- Petit cabinet d'Ã©glise qui nous vient de la rÃ©gion au sud du Japon, de Kyushu, et plus prÃ©cisÃ©ment, Amakusa. C'est lÃ oÃ¹ le saint FranÃ§ois Xavier Ã©tait venu dans les annÃ©es de 1600 pour prÃªcher l'Ã©vangile avec des missionnaires. L'erre tokugawa a sÃ©vÃ¨rement interdit la pratique du culte chrÃ©tien, mais des que l'empereur Meiji (1868- ) a ouvert les portes du Japon, que des missionnaires et prÃªtres, notamment franÃ§ais, sont venu construire des Ã©glises a Kyushu. Ce qui explique pourquoi un coffre en chÃªne franÃ§ais, d'Ã©poque NapolÃ©on III se trouve au Japon.- En trÃ¨s bon Ã©tat, ce qui en fait sa particularitÃ© est son systÃ¨me de fermeture qui permet, une fois ferme, de ne pas pouvoir ouvrir le haut, la porte et le tiroir du dessous.- La clef est prÃ©sente et fonctionne parfaitement. Inclus avec ce meuble, est le Nouveau Testament, publication d'Ã©poque en japonais, et une lunule ornee d'un anneau de vermeil (verre en parfait Ã©tat, sans Ã©brÃ©chures).- Pour ceux qui ne savent pas a quoi sert une lunule, ceci sert pour y mettre l'hostie consacrÃ©e dans l'ostensoir qui utilisÃ© Ã l'intÃ©rieur d'une Ã©glise, pour l'adoration du Saint-Sacrement, ou bien lors de processions telles que la FÃªte-Dieu, soixante jours aprÃ¨s PÃ¢ques. L'ostensoir figure trÃ¨s souvent la forme d'un soleil, dans lequel un espace est amÃ©nagÃ© au centre afin de recevoir l'hostie consacrÃ©e, qui est dans une lunule. DIMENSIONS: - Height (hauteur): 39cm- Width (largeur): 32cm- Depth (profondeur: 19cm read more

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