Saint Maria Goretti is the patron saint of youth, young women, purity, and victims of rape. She was canonised by Pope Pius XII in 1950. These little pearly binoculars were made to commemorate her sainthood, when you peep through the binoculars you can see an image of Maria Goretti on one side, and Pope Pius XII on the other.
The tiny hidden photographs are known as “stanhopes”. They are miniscule photographic images attached to tiny lenses and hidden inside objects. They were favourites amongst the souvenir traders because people loved the novelty of hidden imagery. You can often find stanhopes with views of tourist destinations, religious iconography, or in rarer cases nudes and soft pornography.
These pretty little binoculars fall into the religious category. They are especially beautifully made, much nicer than most of the 20th Century stanhopes I have come across, which is fitting considering the occasion they commemorate.
Maria Goretti is one of the youngest Saints canonised by the Catholic church. She was only 11 when she was murdered by the young man and member of her extended family who was trying to rape her. In true virgin-martyr style she forgave her murderer and would-be-rapist as she died of the 14 stab wounds he inflicted. After her death she appeared to her killer as a vision in his prison cell which caused him to repent his sins and dedicate his life to God.
I usually don’t trade in religious iconography because these stories were part of my Catholic girls’ school education and now make me burn with feminist rage. Maria’s tragic death has been repeated thousands of times by thousands of girls since. Perhaps this little treasure can be in memory of all of the lives lost to sexual violence.
Manufacture:
The binoculars are made of brass and imitation mother of pearl.
They measure 62mm x 50mm x 27mm and weigh 13.4 grams.
Condition:
In lovely vintage condition. I have left the patina on the brass, but they could be polished to a high shine.
Saint Maria Goretti is the patron saint of youth, young women, purity, and victims of rape. She was canonised by Pope Pius XII in 1950. These little pearly binoculars were made to commemorate her sainthood, when you peep through the binoculars you can see an image of Maria Goretti on one side, and Pope Pius XII on the other.
The binoculars are made of brass and imitation mother of pearl.
They measure 62mm x 50mm x 27mm and weigh 13.4 grams.
