Important Early 18th Century Italian Carved Monstrance Reliquary Tabernacle

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 Italian hand carved polychromed parcel gilt church altar stick. Born in Italy in the second half of the 19th century, having a sculptural crown shaped gilt metal top surrounding a tall candlestick pricket, over carved and spiral turned central column, rising on tri foot hexagonal base. The fantastic religious antique, circa 1870, having warm, rich giltwood carvings, nicely detailed, with beautiful, elegantly aged rustic patina, worn, distressed, chippy paint, adds historic depth, character and old world charm. Dimensions (approx): 19" High, 7" Wide, 7" Deep. Provenance / Acquisition: Acquired from the Dallas, TX estate of T. Boone Pickens (b.1928 -2019). An American business magnate and financier. J. Garrett Auctioneers had the pleasure of presenting this item from the iconic Texas and Oklahoma oil...

Wonderful and detailed reliquary holder with its beautiful weathered original silver, Italy, circa 1750. Weathered and small losses and old repairs.

19th Century wood & embossed metal relicquary. The piece originally sat on the alter of the church holding relics. Mirror has been placed where the glass originally held the relics.