Vietnamese Wood Altar Niche

Gothic spires in 19th century Vietnam. History travels, and it packs its style.

This altar niche comes from French Indochina, present day Vietnam, and dates to the mid to late 19th century. It is carved and painted wood in the French colonial style. Catholic missions and communities in the region built altars and niches to house sacred images, often borrowing the pointed arches of European churches. A steep gable crowned with a fleur-de-lis rises over an arched opening with one shelf, flanked by slim pinnacles. Gilt scrolling vines run over deep red paint. It stands on turned legs, 71 inches high.

The shelf is empty. The arch still points up.