"G"
ex-voto marin sous cloche, elegant object of folk art, this unusual piece represents a religious scene on a boat with angels kneeling before a central figure, the Virgin Mary. This type of ex-voto was often offered by sailors or their families in thanks for divine protection during storms or other dangers at sea. This type of work was common in maritime sanctuaries such as that of Notre-Dame de la Garde in Marseille or Notre-Dame de Rocamadour. It testifies to a deep faith and a maritime tradition where sailors placed their fate in the hands of History: An ex-voto is an offering made to a divinity or a saint as a sign of gratitude for a grace obtained or in request of special protection. Its history dates back to Antiquity, where Greeks and Romans deposited votive objects in temples to honor their gods. In Christianity, this tradition has continued, particularly in sanctuaries and churches. Ex-votos take various forms: engraved plaques, paintings, silver hearts, symbolic objects (such as crutches left by those who survived a miracle), or even miniature boats offered by sailors saved from a storm. These objects are not only testimonies of faith, but also fragments of popular history, recounting the hopes and trials of believers throughout the centuries.