18th Century Italian Carved Painted Wood Reliquary Altar Figure Bust Pair

A superb antique European hand-carved and painted limewood Santo altar figure. Born in Europe in the late 18th / early 19th century, most likely Naples, Italy, the wooden sculpture...

A lovely antique Spanish Colonial hand carved and painted wood santo altar figure - religious folk art sculpture. 18th/19th century, possibly earlier, most likely depicting Saint F...

Important and historic, acquired from the estate of legendary American businessman, the late T. Boone Pickens, we're proud to offer this exceptional carved giltwood reliquary - monstrance from the early 18th century. Elaborately hand carved in period Rococo - Rocaille taste, with superb scrollwork, openwork, fanciful acanthus leaf and shell, ornate detailing, polychrome painted warm pastel colors, now beautifully distressed, muted tones, with remnants of gold gilded accents. Pieces such as this were used in early churches for convenient exhibition or public display of some object of piety and other important religious relics...

A scarce Baroque period Spanish or Italian hand carved polychrome painted wood Santo sculpture with inset colored glass eyes, original white robe garb and later wood rosary. Intrica...

A stunning antique Italian Baroque style silvered metal gilded wood monstrance reliquary. circa 1770-1820 Handmade in Italy in the late 18th / early 19th century, commissioned by the church to display an important religious relic, sculptural painted wood form, mounted with decorative silver repousse metal facing, open oval window where the philatory relic was once housed, rising on a gold gilt painted shaped plinth base. Dimensions: (approx) 17" High, 8" Wide, 5" Deep, 1.25lbs History: Reliquaries (also referred to as a shrine or châsse in French), are containers used to protect and display relics. A portable reliquary may be called a fereter, and a chapel in which it is housed a feretory. A monstrance, also known as an ostensorium (or an ostensory), is a vessel used in Roman Catholic, Old Catholic, High Church Lutheran and Anglican churches for the display on an altar of some object of piety, such as the consecrated Eucharistic host during Eucharistic adoration or Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. It is also used as reliquary for the public display of relics of some saints. 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 moving and dividing the bodies of saints much earlier than the West, probably in part because the new capital of Constantinople, unlike Rome, lacked buried saints. Relics are venerated in the Oriental Orthodox, Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic and some Anglican Churches. Reliquaries provide a means of protecting and displaying relics. While frequently taking the form of caskets, they range in size from simple pendants or rings to very elaborate ossuaries. The relics were enshrined in containers crafted of or covered with gold, silver, gems, and enamel. These objects constituted a important form of artistic production across Europe and Byzantium throughout the Middle Ages. Many were designed with portability in mind, often being exhibited in public or carried in procession on the saint's feast day or on other holy days. Pilgrimages often centered on the veneration of relics. The faithful often venerate relics by bowing before the reliquary or kissing it; those churches which observe the veneration of relics distinguish between the honor given to the saints and the worship that is due to God alone. Sixteenth-century reformers such as Martin Luther opposed the use of relics since many had no proof of historical authenticity and objected to a cult of saints. Many reliquaries, particularly in northern Europe, were destroyed by Calvinists or Calvinist sympathizers during the Reformation...

A scarce Baroque Period Spanish altarpiece retablo / reredo, by (attributed) Luis Salvador Carmona (1708-1767), depicting thorn crowned Christ crucified / Cristo crucificado hand carved, polychromed wood with forged iron nails, mounted on later plaque. This rare antique religious work / object of art, circa 1750, most likely commissioned by the Catholic Church of Spain, destined to be prominently displayed as an altarpiece / retablo or as part of a much larger reredo, directly behind the main altar at a Spanish or Continental European Catholic Church (French, Italian, Iberian, Portuguese) The Crucified Christ, displayed mounted on a later faded red fabric upholstered shaped backboard plaque with textured gilt border. The exceptional hand sculpted, carved, gessoed, polychrome painted figure depicting bloodied Jesus, with crown of thorns atop his head, only wearing a undulating shaped cloth around his loin, arms extended and feet crossed, spear head form iron nails through both. The verso covered in an old paper printed backing with metal hook hardware at top for wall hanging. Dimensions (approx): Overall: 22" High, 14.5" Wide, 3.25" Deep Figure only: 16" High, 10" Wide, 3" Deep Historical background: Artist: (attrib) Luis Salvador Carmona (1708, Nava del Rey – 1767, Madrid) was a Spanish Baroque sculptor who came from a family of artists, including uncle of Manuel Salvador Carmona. He was sent to be trained in Madrid in the workshop of Juan Alonso...

Spectacular and very decorative piece. Carved wooden reliquary bust representing a Saint figure. Beautiful traces of its original silver and gilding. Weathered, small losses and with...

Spectacular and very decorative piece. Large hand carved wooden reliquary bust of a saint. Beautiful weathered color and gilding. Small losses/Old repairs and without the relics. Ita...

Spectacular and very decorative piece. Large carved wooden reliquary bust of a Saint. Beautiful weathered paint and gilding. Small losses / old repairs and without the relics. Italy ...

Very rare hand pair carved wooden reliquary shrines with wonderful decoration and color/gilding, Italy, circa 1750 Weathered, small losses and old re...

Beautiful and detailed reliquary holder with its original gilding, Italy, circa 1750. Weathered and small losses.

18th century Italian painted and parcel gilt reliquary box. This lovely large Italian Baroque box is made of painted and parcel gilt wood surrounded by ...