18Th Century Reliquary

18th Century Religious Reliquary

An arm reliquary (or bras-reliquaries) is a “speaking reliquary”—a sacred vessel shaped like the body part it was intended to house. Beyond being a container for a saint’s remains, every detail of its design served a specific theological and liturgical purpose. The extended index and middle fingers represent the Latin gesture of blessing.

This example is aged naturally as you may expect as its over 300 years. Behind the crystal panel sits a bone of sorts. During the Middle Ages and Baroque periods, these reliquaries were used as “liturgical props”. Clergy would hold the arm and make the sign of the cross over the congregation, allowing the saint to “personally” deliver a blessing to the faithful.

By the Baroque era, the cartouche became highly ornamental, often framed by elaborate scrolls or “strapwork” to emphasize the importance of the contents.

Dimensions: 22″ H ×8″ W × 4″ D
Origin: Italy
Date: 1750
Materials: Wood

Condition:
• An item dated to over 300 years old
• Missing painted surface
• Natural aged paint with crackling
• The crystal positioned centrally is milky in colour
• A natural patina to all this items surface

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