Devotional or Reliquary Pendant, Gilt Silver, Enamel, 17th Century

One of its fronts presents a textile background under a transparent glass, space that was surely designed to contain relics. The other side has a brightly colored enamel with the Vir...

Devotional pendant or reliquary. Oil painting on aventurine, enamel, gold. Spain, 17th century. Medallion or devotional pendant or reliquary made of aventurine or aventurine with an octagonal shape and faceted fronts, enhanced with a series of enamels combining black and gold, which protect two oil paintings with a Catholic Christian religious theme, located one on each side of the piece. Protected, you can see a very particular Virgin with Child for being inspired by the Icon of the Madonna del Popolo (Rome, Italy), and a simplified Martyrdom of San Lorenzo (the saint, the grill and an angel with a crown and the palm corresponding to the subject). The edges of the piece have been protected with simple metal elements. The painting of San Lorenzo follows a common composition in the Spanish school, and would recall works such as the painting of the main altar of the Church of San Lorenzo de Huesca, for example, but also others such as the engraving by Marcantonio Raimondi (executed around 1527) in some details. The so-called icon of the Madonna del Popolo was well known for being considered as made by Saint Luke, and was brought to the church of the same denomination by Gregory IX from the Sancta Sanctorum of the Lateran Palace after a flood caused a terrible plague in the city and through a solemn procession with the image of Santa Maria del Popolo. Regarding the material of the piece, a certain type of glass and a type of quartz (which can be green or reddish-brown, and usually has tiny elements of yellow mica that give it golden reflections) is known as aventurine or aventurine. In the first case, it is known that “aventurine” or “stellaria” appears mentioned in the Murano workshops for the first time during the first quarter of the 17th century, in reference to a very complicated production paste (it is said that the name comes from of this circumstance, that is, that its creation was due to luck or luck) that imitates the effects of that stone (from India and Russia at that time) thanks to the inclusion of copper particles, and that it was used as if out of stone (cut) given the complexity of its use in blowing (practically impossible). And, dealing with this material, it is necessary to mention “The Nativity” by Pietro da Cortona, dated around 1656, which is kept in the El Prado...

Devotional pendant made in silver with a Latin cross shape, decorated on the outside with simple scrolls, spikes, pearls and other elements of classicist inspiration, as well as a ri...

Devotional medal, Santiago Apóstol. Ormolu, 17th century. Openwork devotional medal with the image of Santiago Apóstol in the center, on a pedestal and holding a staff and a book, surrounded by a crown of leaves knotted with two loops above and below. Copies similar to the present one are found in the Museum of Pilgrimages in Santiago de Compostela...

Devotional plaque, Ecce Homo. Bronze. Spanish school, 17th century. Bronze devotional plate with an oval shape and a washer at the top that presents a relief within a frame of smoot...

Devotional plaque, Immaculate Conception. Bronze. Spanish school, 17th century. Bronze devotional plate with washer at the top that presents a relief on the front. In this you can s...

A rare silver reliquary arm with relic bone, with the coat-of-arms of Cosme Roger (1671-1710), bishop of Lombez, France, with original bone relic Poss...

This is a 17th Century Sterling Silver Traveler Reliquary Round Case/Eucharist Bread Keepsake Box Pendant. It depicts a round wide hinged case engraved in the front with an IHS Chris...

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...

A reliquary bronze crucifix on large engraved cross pendant with two hanging small crosses at both lateral sides of the large cross, Italy, early 17th century. Both small crosses wit...

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 ...

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...