Italian 18th Century Relic Stand of Carved Wood & Silver Plate

This functional French antique is made of solid oak. Simply designed with a tilted surface for resting a book over a turned pedestal base with three splayed legs. Cleaned and polishe...

A masterfully carved stairwell ornament from the early part of the 18th century, Sweden. Dating to 1730, this curved decorative detail was once a part of a grand staircase. The ornam...

A large seven light brass and gilt-metal candelabra, most likely from the altar of a French church. The wheat and grape designs represent communion bread and wine; the lily represent...

This generously sized five-arm candelabra has gained a wonderful patina since its creation during the 1890’s in France. A single arm is raised above the rest while four scrolling arm...

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...

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.

Italy, Firenze, late 17th century Simple but elegant typical Florentine candlestick. It has cracks and small lacks of the pinstripe typical o...

This is an antique ornate stick stand. An English, cast iron umbrella loop, dating to the Victorian period, circa 1880. A wonderfully decorative and practical hallway piece with deli...