18th Century Processional Painted Sunburst on a Baroque Silver Gilt Altar Vase

An incredible processional sunburst/cross, wooden rays emanate from the central image of the Virgin Mary set behind glass, topped with a metal crown and cross. The sunburst is set wi...

An incredible and very rare late 18th century Italian water gilded sunburst, with a formation of clouds surrounded by sunrays, in beautiful time worn condition, one ray has been lost...

A stunning hand-crafted wood and applied gesso altar vase, late 18th century with faux marbling to the base and flame top. Small areas of loss to the gesso and wear to the paint com...

Wonderfully ornate gilt gesso over carved wood processional cross, probably northern Italy late 18th century. The large floral wreath with carved gilt ribbons, a small cross to the c...

Immaculate silver monstrance or ostensorium over a quadripod rectangular base, decorated with wine branches and small angels heads. French work from ...

Beautiful baroque gilded metal procession cross with a great patina. France circa 1750. weathered and small losses. Measurements include the wooden pedestal.

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...

Opulent 18th century Baroque carved giltwood reliquary (a container for relics) monstrance with curled scroll design. It houses a first-class relic of the blood of the15th Century sa...