This is an antique French automotive dashboard medal (car medallion) from the 1920s to 1930s. These were specifically engineered for cars rather than personal wear. A silver-toned relief medallion was set onto a vibrant celluloid or early plastic (Bakelite-style) disc. This assembly was pressed onto a sturdy iron or steel baseplate. Depending on the exact manufacturer, the rusted iron reverse originally featured either a small mounting bracket/strip, a concealed magnet, or an adhesive pad to fasten securely to the vehicle's interior dashboard. This one has the older-style small mounting bracket. The suspension loop at the top allowed it to be alternatively hung from a rearview mirror hook or bracket.
During the early motoring era, drivers commonly installed devotional medals on their dashboards—St. Christopher was the most prevalent, but St. Joseph was frequently chosen as a patron of family safety and protection. St. Christopher dashboard items are far more common on the market. While St. Joseph is rarer, demand is highly specific to niche collectors of early automotive history or Catholic artifacts. Real Art Deco-era celluloid like this, paired with a high-relief silver-toned metal medallion, is a great item for vintage auto enthusiasts and religious collectors. It measures 1.90" in diameter.
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