I bought this at an auction for a convent that was closing down near Montauban in France. There were only 3 very elderly nuns left in residence and they were selling the contents and the building to give to charity, then were moving to their sister house in Narbonne. It was used to display saint's statues in the large entryway. I saw it and thought it would make a wonderful entryway statement as a hall console or left in the garden to weather gently in the elements.