Reliquary Paperolles - Saint Francis Xavier Giving Baptism - 18th Century

A rare iconography makes this 18th century reliquary a collector's item as well as a devotional one.
In the center is an engraving published in Antwerp by Verbruggen and Goetiers in a series dedicated to the life of Saint Francis Xavier. Here he is as an evangelist, giving baptism to the king of Bungi. Very finely watercolored, the medallion is placed in an elegant ornamentation of paperolles, guided by two Holy Relics and two fragments of Agnus Dei in wax, therefore, placed at the cardinal points ... just as baptism shows us the way.
Carved and gilded wooden frame with some losses
Dimensions of 22.5 cm by 19 cm and 3.5 cm deep
Reliquary open for a necessary dusting operation.
Good condition
Reference 743