Ivory Reliquary Containing A Relic Of The True Cross Of Christ, 19th Century, With A Bishop's Seal

A rare and delicate circular reliquary made of turned ivory, featuring a hanging ring at the top, intended to be worn or displayed as an object of devotion.

The interior of the medallion contains a relic said to be from the True Cross of Christ, arranged in the shape of a cross. According to Christian tradition, the True Cross is the one on which Christ was crucified, discovered in the 4th century in Jerusalem by Saint Helena, mother of Emperor Constantine, and subsequently distributed throughout Christendom in the form of fragments preserved in reliquaries.

On either side of the relic are two authentic manuscripts intended to guarantee its ecclesiastical certification. They bear the inscription “Vraye Croix,” an archaic spelling used from the 17th to the 18th century and still present in certain religious contexts in the 19th century, attesting to an ancient and unbroken tradition of authentication.

On the reverse side, the reliquary bears an episcopal wax seal, confirming the relic’s ecclesiastical validation. The bishop who performed this certification has yet to be identified.

The reliquary is sealed and has never been opened, ensuring its integrity in the condition in which it was handed down. An object of faith and devotion, it also serves as a historical testament to religious practices associated with the veneration of relics in Europe.

Dimensions: 3.7 cm in diameter.

In very good overall condition despite a small crack in the ivory.

A rare object, both understated and imbued with spirituality, belonging as much to religious history as to the heritage of private devotion.

Price does not include shipping costs

Police Registry Ref.: A129

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