Antique 19th century French gilt bronze and champleve enamel holy water font, bénitier wall plaque. The decorated gilt bronze cross features colorful champleve enamel floral and arabesques, with the monogram IHS (Iesus Hominum Salvator) in the center. Gilt bronze figure of Christ, modeled after the Christ on the Cross by the 17th-century Italian sculptor Alessandro Algardi (also known as Algarde). Decorated with eight red glass cabochons. Unsigned, attributed to the foundry of Ferdinand Barbedienne. Surmounted on an alabaster cross with bronze backing plate. Measures 22 5/8" height x 12 7/8" wide x 2 7/8" deep. The corpus measures 9" height x 7" wide across the hands. In overall good antique condition, there are repairs to the marble stone as shown. Bearing a dedication to the back: À Suzanne Potin, Souvenir de 1ère Communion, Sa Grand'Mère, Vve Félix Potin, 8 Mai 1890. (To Suzanne Potin, In Memory of First Communion, Her Grandmother Widow Félix Potin, May 8, 1890). It could be possibe this was a gift to the granddaughter of the widow of Felix Potin, the founder of a franchise of luxury goods and grocery stores operating throughout Paris and in main towns in France. After Felix's early death in 1871, his wife Josephine and later their children, took over and grew the business. By 1927, the company employed 8000 people and had 70 branches as well as extensive wine caves. The business grew and continued in this way until the family sold it in 1958.