Featured WWI era Religious Jewelry Items (men's)

I don't know that these items exactly belong under "jewelry", but they're not militaria per se, and I'm not quite certain WHERE my question should go.

Anyway, these are 2 small religious items that belonged to my grandfather during his time with the US Army in France during WWI. They have been stored for years in a small wood box with a number of other small bits that he owned. (I have posted a few of these under Militaria.)

These two appear to be souvenirs of Notre Dame. The first is a TINY, multi-page metal book of photos of Notre Dame and Lourdes. I have found no markings on it:



The second is a small brass-tone ring. The marking inside says "FIX" - with the quote marks:


Strictly souvenirs, I imagine, but in context with his other military memorabilia. sort of cool, right?

Any input is greatly appreciated!

 

The two items are (religious) souvenirs from Lourdes and have no military connection. Lourdes is one of the most important pilgrimage places of the catholic church. Maybe your grandfather visited Lourdes when he was in France. Maybe he was wounded in the war or accompanied a wounded comrade there.

The first can be worn as a pendant, the material could have been silver plated.

The ring is "gilded". In the 19th century there were different (and very successful) companies in France that developed different gold-like matrials/gilding/gold doublé techniques. Fix ist the oldest. It was founded by François-Auguste Savard in 1829. At the world exhibition in Paris in 1855 it won a gold medal for its production techniques. The high of the company was in the years before the war of 1870 and then later again in the period from 1880-1914. As far as I know the company still exists under a different name, but does not make jewellery anymore and instead specialises in electrolytic coatings in various fields.

 

Thank you SO MUCH, MaJa! I really appreciate the information, especially the part about FIX. Very interesting.

I did know that these were not military-related. The only connection was that my grandfather got them when he was in France during WWI - and yes, he was wounded there - quite seriously.

 

https://www.belle-epoque-dolls.com/en/categories/diaporama1.php?ref=A0526C

I found your book

 

Wow, Flipper - how cool is that?!

The back panel is different, but that's the closest thing I've seen so far!