Monstrance Copper Reliquary – Late 15th Early 16th Century

This remarkable reliquary constitutes a museum quality collector's item.
The reliquary itself is made up of an octagonal foot with concave sides on which is fixed a hexagonal rod with a crack. Topping this stem is a bow decorated with five colored cabochons in Limoges enamel. Four represent busts of holy people, the fifth colored one was probably brought back and one last one is missing.
The monstrance with delicately hammered tiles is reinforced by pinnacles. It is surmounted by a Christ on the Cross. The two widest faces of the building are pierced with openings housing a group of relics.

If the container is exceptional, the contents are also worthy of interest: The first relic is bagged. Protected on the front by a wax seal and mentioning on the back that these are bones of St Romain Martyr by Monseigneur Périer -born in Grenoble in 1740 and died in Avignon in 1824-. A second relic has a more significant seal, it is the one which is visible on one of the faces of the reliquary. Saint Romain is once again in the spotlight with a second relic. It is an ex-ossibus fragment protected by tissue. Several holy relics are in an original small ball on which different handwritten labels are stuck. Finally, three other bagged relics coexist, including two from Saint Felix.

On the second side of our monstrance is presented an Agnus Dei surrounded by gold and silver cannetilles as well as several relics.
A probably French work, around the 1500s.
Dimensions of 31.5 cm high by 15 wide and 14 deep.
Good condition despite some marks and losses.