Reliquary, s.XVII. Lot n° 1

Reliquary, s.XVII. In silver. Miniature on vellum. Bishop's shield carved on the base. Measurements: 22 x 16 x 10 cm. The present reliquary, of Spanish work, dated in the last third of the XVII century, is made in silver with a structure inspired by the monstrances. It consists of a circle of niches surrounding a central medallion-niche with a representation of Christ in an attitude of blessing or Salvator Mundi, on vellum, a miniature resolved with delicate workmanship. Each of the oval medallions mounted in silver was conceived to carry a different relic. The obverses of the circle, in this case, bear legends referring to the relics in question and a cross as the only symbol inscribed on each one. The silver foot combines moldings and projections, and is decorated at the top with three flowers, also in silver. The use of reliquaries became an important part of Christian practices from at least the 4th century, initially in the Eastern Churches, which adopted the practice of transferring and dividing the bodies of saints long before the West, probably in part because the new capital of Constantinople, unlike Rome, lacked buried saints. Reliquaries provide a means of protecting and displaying relics and over the years have acquired a diversity of shapes and designs.