Large Baroque Reliquary Crucifix – Blackened Wood, Silver And Relics Of Saints – 19th Century

Large Baroque Reliquary Crucifix – Blackened wood, silver and relics of saints – 18th century

Large Baroque reliquary crucifix, dating from the late 18th century, early 19th century, remarkable both for its iconography and for the richness of its liturgical and hagiographic elements.

Description

The blackened wooden cross rests on an architectural base with canted sides, decorated with silvered cartouches in bas-relief in the rocaille style, each containing a precious authenticated relic.
The Christ on the cross, in finely chiseled silver metal, presents a work of great expressiveness: the modeling of the torso, the details of the leaning face, the crown of thorns and the pleated perizonium reflect the Baroque influence and a deep religious sensitivity.
Beneath Christ, a skull with crossed tibias symbolizes Golgotha, recalling the vanity of earthly life and the promise of salvation. Just below, a glazed lunula contains a martyr's relic identified by the inscription: Ex oss. Martyrum (martyr's bone), presented on a red cloth.

The base contains three other relics, presented in silver oval compartments:
S. Adriani (Saint Adrian)
S. Sebastiani (Saint Sebastian)
S. Beatricis (Saint Beatrice)

These relics are enshrined on a red or pink cloth background, with period handwritten labels, in a carefully crafted and preserved decoration. Total height: 76 cm Period: late 18th early 19th century

Materials: blackened wood, silver-plated metal, glass, cloth, parchment
Provenance: probably convent or private chapel

Condition:

Good general condition with traces of use; one relic is missing in the empty central alcove (visible in the photos)

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