The Ex-Voto: Between Popular Devotion and Decorative Object
Before becoming a decorative object found in bohemian interiors, the ex-voto was a gesture. A gesture of gratitude, prayer, or protection, offered in thanks or as a plea for grace. Even today, this symbolism continues to imbue the objects that bear its name.
What does "ex-voto" mean?
The Latin expression ex voto suscepto means "from a vow made." An ex-voto is traditionally an object placed in a place of worship to give thanks for a grace received: a healing, a protection, a wish granted. Traces of it can be found in many civilizations, from ancient Greece to the churches and chapels around the Mediterranean, as well as in the popular traditions of Latin America and India.
The Sacred Heart, an emblematic motif
Among the most common forms of ex-voto is the Sacred Heart, often adorned with flames, rays, or floral motifs. This universal symbol of love, protection, and gratitude has crossed centuries and cultures without ever losing its visual power. It is this motif that directly inspires our ex-voto mirrors, handcrafted in India.
From devotional object to decorative object
Stepping outside its religious context, the ex-voto has lost none of its symbolic charge. Hung on a wall, it continues to convey this idea of protection and benevolence towards those who live in the house. It is an object that tells a story, your own as much as that of the tradition from which it comes.
At KIFF KIFF, our ex-voto pieces are handcrafted in New Delhi, made of golden metal and recycled glass, in keeping with the Indian artisanal know-how that we showcase throughout our store.
An object with a name
Each of our ex-voto mirrors and decorations bears a first name, as a way to give them their own identity and to perpetuate this tradition of a unique object, never quite identically reproducible.
Discover the entire collection of ex-voto mirrors and our wall decorations, reinterpreted by hand by Indian artisans from this universal popular symbol.
